Driver Education

Throughout each individual’s lifetime, it is safe to say that they will experience at least one car accident. Whether this means that they are in the car when it crashes or being a witness to one, it is more likely than not to happen. With today’s distractions ranging from music to electronics to billboards, and especially to substances, getting into a potential accident seems easier than ever. Technology now is the main issue that needs to be tackled, seeing as its relevance in our everyday lives is becoming more prominent.

In my hometown in New Jersey, our schools take driver education very seriously. There is little to no excuse for missing the class. Because of this heavy emphasis on the importance of learning the rules of the road from the beginning, I knew that driving was not something to take lightly. By educating the youth on the vital rules that each person needs to know, it can lead to a decrease in tragic accidents that would then save lives. When each person gets behind the wheel, they are subconsciously agreeing with every other person to follow those rules and to maintain the laws keeping them safe from accidents with one another. Emphasizing this importance of drivers education and the laws even before they step foot in the driver’s seat could potentially save lots of lives. There are many different actions that the country as a whole can take to reduce the number of vehicular accidents. One of these ways being to set a national age restriction for driving. Seeing as each state sets their own age requirements to get a license, some as young as 14 can start to drive. By setting a national age requirement to begin driving, young kids can take multiple years of drivers education prior to receiving their primary license and better learn about the safety of driving.

Vehicular death is not something that my community or family takes lightly. In 2011 we had a car crash occur where four of our high schools football players passed away, one of those being my step brother. Again in 2014, another car accident occurred, this time killing one of the 5 passengers. From a young age, before I could even understand the concept of driving, I knew that it was something that can change not only my life, but everyone surrounding it, if one wrong action were to be taken. As I began to drive I was terrified of the possibilities that could happen if I or someone else were to make a wrong move. But by keeping my eyes on the road and off my phone, staying focused and not getting distracted by people or music to the best of my ability, I know that I am able to keep myself and others safe. There is nothing more dangerous than getting behind the wheel, so educating yourself about the dangers and risks of driving can only benefit how you can protect yourself.