Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss

It was a long day in the winter of senior year. I had been dragging through the whole day, and finally the last bell rang to go home. I had never wanted to go home more and bury myself in blankets with my dogs. However, that idea faded quickly once I got picked up. The parking lot and route to head home are always a difficult challenge since the roads are too small and everyone is in a hurry to leave after a long day. This antsy feeling, though, would result in reckless driving from everyone. As traffic is moving along and breaking apart, people begin to speed up a little, which is normal, but the car behind us was unaware of the speed of traffic. This resulted in us getting rear-ended and developing a fear of driving for myself. When the hit occurred, I got instant whiplash, and my back ached since I was sitting relaxed as the passenger and I had been tired. Fear grew in me because I had never been in a car accident before, my uncle had been driving me home, and I had been so disoriented that all I wanted to do was see my parents. I would soon find out that the reason for us getting rear-ended was because the driver behind us had been distracted on his phone and didn’t realize the rate and speed at which traffic was going. Not only did he put our lives at risk, but they had put their own life at risk and didn’t even think about it. Their phone was consuming their full attention at a moment when it’s crucial to keep your eyes on your surroundings. They didn’t comprehend the damage that they had done, not only to the car and our physical condition but also to my mental state. Ever since that day, I have gained a fear of driving and even being a passenger to others. Every time I see a car speed next to me, cut me off, or even honk, I tense up. The driver who is responsible for this trauma gets to drive off freely and live their life, while I have to take deep breaths whenever I’m on the road.

Currently, in the United States, there are seven million people who drive without a license on the road, which makes up 3% of the population. As of 2021, the number of deaths that have been caused by unlicensed drivers had reached an estimate of 11,000. More so, 11,000 lives have been tragically lost due to the ignorance of unlicensed drivers, which could have easily been prevented if they had taken the time out of their day to educate themselves. The same time they took to drive on the road without a license could’ve been used to complete the simple task of driver’s education. It should be an urge to engage in driver’s education for your own personal safety and the safety of other drivers.

According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, over 150,000 teen drivers have found that driver’s education reduces the number of car accidents. By raising awareness of driver’s education to prevent inconsiderate behaviors, the number of accidents can be reduced significantly. Driver’s education is accessible to everyone and can be taken in person or online, so there is no excuse. Not only will it reduce the number of car accidents, but it will also enhance your knowledge of driving in general. You’ll get to learn how to drive responsibly and with caution. Sometimes having a family member or a friend teach you how to drive could cause issues because they might teach you how to drive the way they want you to drive and not the way you should drive. Driver’s education is important and beneficial to yourself and the other people you’ll meet on the road. When driving, you have to be selfish and selfless at the same time and think about your safety along with everyone else’s.

To start the driver’s education journey, it depends on what state you live in. For example, in the state of California, you must complete 30 hours of online driver’s education that consist of online learning and tests, and you must complete your permit test once you’ve finished your required hours. Once you receive your instruction permit, you’ll be able to enroll in traffic school. Although it’s not required, it is recommended to read the driver’s handbook to further understand traffic laws, signs, signals, and your rights as a driver. However, every state is different, so it’s important to find out the requirements needed to begin a driver’s education and expand your knowledge of driving and safety. It’s a simple task and process that doesn’t require much of your time, so there isn’t an urge to procrastinate about it because when you slack off on driver’s education, you’re putting yourself and everyone around you on the road at risk. It’s something you need to be open to in your life.

As a human being, you have to be selfless, consider the protection of others around you on the road, and also consider your own security. It’s important to always be cautious, put your pride aside, and think about taking driver’s education. Read the driver’s handbook, take online courses, and enroll in traffic school. When you’re taking the time out of your day to be cautious and practice safe driving, then you’re doing the right thing as a human.