More Than Just A Class

As
a teenager, getting a shiny new driver’s license is one of many
landmarks of growing up. I was practically bouncing up and down the
first time I drove myself home from school. During my drivers ed, I
noticed how distracted my classmates were during our courses. Looking
back, I realized that lots of teenagers don’t consider how
important drivers ed is. As a teenager, driving is the most dangerous
thing we can do- shouldn’t we take it more seriously?

Driver’s
education has a crucial role in teaching our youth how to keep
themselves and others safe while driving. Teaching teenagers the
responsibility they have when they’re on the roads is super
important to learning how to drive. Many teenagers don’t realize
that drivers ed is more than just about traffic laws; they
are probably only thinking about acing their driver’s test.
Explaining to teenagers how crazy driving can have life long impacts
will show teens that they play an undeniable role in road safety.
Drivers ed classes teach teenagers looking to get on the roads
life long habits that help them be a skilled and safe driver- it
isn’t just some class that you take before you can get behind the
wheel.

Decreasing
the number of lives lost to car accidents can be achieved through
education, and driver demonstration. Teenagers learning to drive
should be aware of the leading factors that cause accidents like
distractions, cell phones, driving while tired, and more. This gives
them a better understanding of what they need to be aware of when
behind the wheel. Next, teens should be aware of the consequences of
not driving safely. Drivers should be required to answer a written
question before getting their license that demonstrates their
understanding of the importance of safe driving. It does not take
much effort to drive safely during a test or with a parent; the
reality is that teenagers can be careless when alone or with friends.
Students should demonstrate that they truly understand why they
should be driving safely all the time.

I
was a passenger in the car when my friend was speeding in a
round-about to get back to class after lunch and we were hit by a
car. We stopped and everyone was okay, but we quickly realized that
we were very lucky nothing worse happened. Because of that accident,
I always give myself extra time to get to wherever I am heading so I
don’t feel inclined to speed on the way there. I always advise my
friends to do the same, whether we are at school or going to a
concert. Being a bit late to class or a different event is not worth
what could go wrong, which is something I learned in driving school.
Taking that class helped me learn how to be safe on the road, and
from experience, it’s the first step in both reducing car accidents
and giving teenagers like me the skills to protect themselves and
others on the road.