In the Drivers Seat, The Importance of Driving Education

In the Drivers Seat, The Importance of Driving Education

One of the most vital components in reducing the rate of deaths behind the wheel is driver’s education. More people have lost their lives from driving incidents than soldiers have in most wars. According to the Public Population Reference Bureau, car accidents takes the lead for deaths among young adults is accidents. Drivers between the age of 16-17 have the highest rates of crash involvements. The common theme off all of these scary statistics is that there are I believe there are so many ways to reduce them, starting with driver’s education. With this short course, young people can learn what they need to know to keep themselves and their passengers safe for any drive.

Driver’s education teaches you everything from automobile basics, driving laws in your state, to life-saving defensive driving maneuvers. It also provides you with the knowledge, skills and attitude needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and a pedestrian and will lower your chances of getting traffic tickets or being involved in a car crash. It teaches you the importance of maintaining the posted speed limit, turn off your distractions, keep both hands on the wheel, stay back from the vehicle ahead of you, anticipate what other driver are going to do. You must always know what vehicles you are around as well as your surroundings so that you can properly adjust your driving to whatever the current environment is on the road.

Many things contribute to that action of driving recklessly such as cell phones, alcohol, speed, eating or other personal distracting activities behind the wheel. Besides death, reckless driving can lead to injury, jail time, fines and license suspension or revocation. I personally have never been in a car accident and I’m thankful I haven’t been in one. I have experienced being in a car when a friend of mine was driving a bit irresponsibly, and at the moment I was scared. My logic kicked in and I told my friend to calm down so he could realize that what he wasn’t driving safely and was more cautious for the rest of the ride. Since that experience, I would never enter a vehicle if I know the driver is an irresponsible driver, even if it’s a friend. The risk is not worth the consequences, especially for the worst-case scenario being injury or death.

Some other steps besides driver’s education that can be taken to reduce the number of driving related deaths and injury is to never drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs in your system. Even driving while very tired can give people the same effect of being under the influence, because you won’t be able to focus or see well. After that it is very important to allow ample time to get to your destination, so you don’t drive recklessly just to arrive at your destination quicker. Another thing to keep in mind is when you drive you should keep your phone to the side to avoid the temptation of using your phone while driving.

Car accidents are much more common amongst young adults than any other age groups. It’s important that we all utilize Drivers Education while on the path to learning how to drive. In conclusion, as long as we all do our best to follow these rules on the road the road will be a lot safer place for everyone out there, driver or not.