The Consequences of Being an Uneducated Driver

Overall, too many young adults die every day from car accidents, many lives are lost due to the possibility of distracted driving, driving under the influence, and ultimately- being an uneducated driver. Driver education is designed to help younger individuals become safer drivers, whether driving to school, work, or seeing a family member or even a friend. Taking driver education in school or even an external source can make the driver safer. Again, no matter if it is a 5-minute or an hour drive, an educated driver is more responsible than an individual who has not taken driver’s education. Driver’s education teaches teenagerrs more integrity, responisibility and overall being more knowledgable about road signs, what they mean, what to do in particular instances as a driver and how to stay calm during various emergencies. It also helps individuals become more comfortable behind the wheel as a driver due to being more knowledgable. Having more people who took driver’s education behind the wheel could lead to fewer deaths overall because the result of driver’s education is an individual that is more educated and informed about driving.

The majority of the steps that need to be taken to reduce the number of deaths on the road is to have more educated drivers and individuals who feel more comfortable in possible percarious instances that may happen while on the road. While in a perfect world this is simple, it is not. Many people die every day due to the result of uneducated, distracted drivers, stubborn drivers who won’t get a designated driver for them, and dangerous road conditions, weather, or even simply going too fast. Preventive steps could be taken, yet many people choose not to, unfortunately.

I am ashamed to admit that I have seen first hand one of my family members driving completely irrationally, and have also seen the consequences of driving under the influence. He did not learn the first time or the third time, but now he has real consequences for his actions which righteously served him so. My cousin, unfortunately, is a very irresponsible driver. He has gotten into multiple accidents due to his unwillingness to be responsible and to be sober while driving. As I stated, his actions rightfully gave him consequences, and now, he has to complete a sober breatherlizer test before he can start his veichle. The depressing part of all of this is why he did not stop after the first one. Instead, he repeatedly crashed vehicles, driving a wedge between our family, now having to deal with his consequences, but I am not sure if he understands his actions completely. Even though he did get charged and now cannot start his truck without doing a breathalyzer test. Every day, he now has to deal with this, yet I don’t understand why he would drive under the influence in the first place. Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous, yet he and other people do it on a day-to-day basis. My cousin wanted to choose jail for one year compared to probation for five years to “get it over with” in his words which unfortunately makes me think he still did not learn from his mistakes, yet his chronic alcoholism is still very prominent and affectrs not only him, but weighs heavy on our family as well. I hope one day he will learn his lesson and look back and think how immature he was to crash several times under the influence, but hopefully for right now, he doesn’t crash any more vehicles under the influence. Only a margin of individuals get caught driving under the influence, whether it is drugs or alcohol- it is all unsafe. I wish more drivers who are under the influence would ask a sober friend to drive them or even call a taxi. We live in a world where technology is at our fingertips, yet many ignorant individuals will drive under the influence every day due to their stupidity.

The steps I can take to become a safe and better driver is to continue doing my driver’s safety course yearly and keep up to date on my car maintenance as well as my knowledge as a driver. I have previously taken driver’s education where I went to high school along with completing a course yearly that takes hours to complete with an exam at the end, therefore, I am certain that I am a safer driver than others. Also, I can help others become safer drivers by recommending the course to them as well as recommending driver’s education to younger teenagers that have not had the chance to get behind the wheel or practice at all. It is extremely important to teacher younger indiduals to navigate the roads as a safe driver, and overall firsthand I feel that is extrememly important to teach the dangers of driving under the influence and anything at all that could distract you from the road, whether it is 30 seconds or a minute, you travel feet at a time when you are not paying attention to the road. Think about children that you could hit while driving and that you wouldn’t even see because you were too busy not paying attention to the road. As people, our job should be to keep other people safe when it is as simple as not driving recklessly and to be and stay knowledgeable as a driver. When you get behind the wheel every day, it should be your job to remain sober, not distracted, and know whether or not it is appropriate or not to drive in the current weather conditions; the weather turns fast where I live and the road can quickly become a dangerous place espeically if you are inexperienced. Overall, as a driver, it is important to not only owe it to yourself to be safe but also owe it to other people.