It’s not worth it

Drivers education is important for all drivers. Drivers ed informs and help people understand the concept of how important it is to read the signs, abide to the traffic laws and how in a split second your life can change while being behind the wheel. People that finish the course of drivers ed has a better understanding of someone who has not. They have more knowledge about driving and all the different risks one comes too when they get in the driver’s seat. It helps decrease the number of deaths and it teaches you to put your seatbelt on, what to do if you are hydroplaning, driving with the appropriate poster, and being responsible. People could be more cautious when driving, more careful and smarter, to reduce the number of driving-related deaths.

Personally, I have never been in a car accident. But in May of 2019, my brother was driving irresponsible and it caused him to become a quadriplegic. A quadriplegic is someone who is paralyzed from the neck down. He was only 22 when he had his wreck. He was going well over the speed limit, lost control and it almost cost him his life. Ever since his wreck happened, it has impacted, changed, and affected my family. I will indeed make sure that I have my seatbelt on and whoever is with me does the same. People do not realize how scary a vehicle can be and all it takes is one reckless and careless person. I will not drive recklessly nor speed, either. It scares me to death driving, but I know if I do my part while on the road then it could save my life or someone else’s.

Almost every day, while driving down the road, the steps I can take to make me a better and safer driver is not driving recklessly, understanding that I need to pull over if I feel as if I am going to fall asleep behind the wheel, constantly wearing my seatbelt, keeping my phone in my purse, and not riding close behind anyone. Also, through the testimony of my brother, I will love to encourage individuals and educate them towards driving safely. I know that I cannot prevent every driver just by sharing a tragic story, but maybe they will acknowledge how it can occur to anybody, literally. Within a split of a second, it will happen, and your life and future will be irrevocably changed. My brother constantly tells me, “It is not worth it.” How worthless it is to race the car on the bridge or run the red light because you were in a bit of a rush, or just to take a glance at your phone because you heard it ding. It is not worth it.

Having knowledge in driver’s education will always be beneficial because someone will always learn something new or something they already did not know. I have received one speeding tickets a couple years ago and I went to driving school and I learned a lot in that 5 hours I had to be there. The instructor showed up car crashes, informed us on statistics and how anything could happen to you. I really enjoyed that driving class because I learned that a complete stop is not when you must stop at the stop sign for 3 whole seconds and go. It is when your car rolls back from coming to a stop. That is a complete stop. I would have never known that drivers or even the ones that has been on the road for a couple of decades.