Maturity and Education: A Important Requirement for Young Drivers

The
education of young drivers is very important in reducing the number
of deaths due to car accidents because it exposes new drivers to the
gravity and enormous responsibility associated with owning a driver’s
license. When a teenager begins to learn how to drive, they are
excited about the new freedoms that come with this skill. They tend
to completely overlook the social responsibility that they are
expected to possess when they receive their license. Driver’s
education reminds students of the potentially catastrophic impact
their actions can have on people in their community if they are
negligent drivers.  New drivers get the opportunity to become
responsible citizens by learning the rules of the road and behavioral
requirements. Without this drivers ed training, many new
drivers would never take time to understand the important topics
about safety and standard road knowledge needed to be a conscientious
driver. 

The
first step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related
to driving is to increase the age requirement to obtain a driver’s
license to 18 years old. Although many students may not agree with
this requirement, I think that as a person gets older, they become
more responsible and can understand the weight of their decisions. My
parents did not allow me to get my license until I was 18 because
they knew that I was not ready for all the responsibilities involved
in becoming a reliable driver. I believe that the extra two years
gave me the time I needed to understand the obligations that I have
as a driver to the pedestrians and other cars around me.  At
this age, I was able to fully grasp the devastation that my actions
could cause as well as become more situationally aware of my
surroundings. My parents have recently allowed my sister to get her
license at 16, and I can see the difference in her maturity level and
comfortability with handling the car at this age. I believe that two
more years would allow my sister to develop a well-rounded
perspective on safety and responsibility, which will help her to
become a responsible driver. Another step that can be taken to reduce
the number of deaths related to driving is to teach new drivers to
anticipate the actions of other cars to avoid getting into an
accident. If drivers are taught early on in driving school how to
read situations and drive defensively, they can potentially save the
lives of those around them. My mom has been in a car accident two
times, and both accidents were caused by young inexperienced drivers.
The accidents that my mom experienced have led me to believe that
emphasized training and a higher age minimum are important factors
that reduce the number of drivers killed each year. I think that if
those young drivers had more experience, they would have developed
more tools that would help them make better decisions to avoid an
accident. 

The
steps that I can take to be a better and safe driver is to continue
to stay updated on the rules of the road and cognizant of my
surroundings. I can also drive in a way that protects other drivers
on the road, not just focusing on protecting myself. If these steps
are implemented by myself and the local government drivers, and
pedestrians will be safer.