The Importance of Driver Education

The highways that snake along America like a winding river are the main means for transportation within our country. Each day, office workers, stay at home mom’s, teenagers, and retired veterans alike climb into their vehicles and head out on a new adventure, but with the privilege of being able to drive, comes great responsibility behind the wheel.

It is beyond vital that anyone who puts their foot against the gas pedal, has experience in drivers’ education, and has passed their drivers exam or are currently in the process of taking the exam. On average, each year over 1.19 million fatal car related deaths were recorded in America, and it can be guaranteed that most of them were the result of ignorant, neglectful driving. Many driving related deaths are due to multiple factors, such as speeding, signal jumping (going through a red at the last second before oncoming traffic starts moving on their green), not wearing seatbelts, phone usage, distracted driving by consuming food, or low visibility behind the wheel. Drivers’ education guarantees that each student learns about the dangers of these acts and how necessary it is to stay educated behind the wheel, especially over time as rules and regulations may change.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, drivers should remember the responsibility they uphold when getting behind the wheel – they must keep themselves safe while also making sure those around them are being safe and making the right choices too. To do this, drivers must be wary of their surroundings and be able to recognize when they may be in danger or endangering someone else with their actions. The ability to stop these behaviors or move away from them will help lowering the number of car related fatalities tremendously.

Fortunately, I have not experienced being in a car crash, but I have been in a vehicle with someone driving irresponsibility. An old friend of mine would speed through traffic on the highway, preferring to make quick lane changes without signaling and slamming on their breaks when they approached another car too fast. This not only was dangerous for us, but dangerous for those around us as many lives could have been at stake due to reckless driving. I recall another time when I was driving from work in the evening, and a car beside me would continuously swerve into my lane then back into theirs. I instantly assumed the driver was intoxicated – it was later in the night and the driving was so poor that I couldn’t think of any other reason to explain the dangerous maneuvers of the car. When I was finally able to pass them, I peeked into their car and saw them on their phone, jerkily looking up every few seconds to keep “an eye on the road,” but little did they know they were serving all over the street and putting themselves and so many other drivers in harm’s way. I realized that the distracted driver probably was unaware of their ludacris driving, because they were so focused on whatever was occurring on their phone. This is ultimately unacceptable, as driving is a privilege that must be earned and learned. No one can multitask on a device and while driving as the human brain is unable to focus on two things at once. Some people believe they are masters of the act of multitasking, but what happens when a car quickly switches into your lane while you’re typing out another “OMG,” to your best friend and your gas pedal is to the floor? Nothing good comes out of ignorant, distracted driving and I’ve had to discover that in terrifying and appalling ways.

Being a better and safer driver is an American opportunity that many can only dream of. Personally, I take many steps to make sure I am safe behind the wheel. For one, I make sure I’ve had a good night’s rest before driving, if I’m too fatigued, I’ll ask my parents or a friend to give me a ride, since being tired and driving is a deadly combination. I also keep my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ so that there’s no urge to check my notifications while I’m driving. To help others be safe behind the wheel, I remind them to stay off their phone, especially whenever I’m in the vehicle with them or I know they’ll be transporting other people, since being in the car with other people can also serve as a distraction. Additionally, I make sure I am aware of my surroundings, as being a licensed driver means not only driving for yourself, but for other people too.

Driver education is vital to reducing the number of car related deaths across America, and keeping innocent people safe as they use the roads that are a main means of transportation. Everyone should refresh their minds on driver education and always be aware of their surroundings, since being behind the wheel is a privilege, not a right.