Driver’s Education: A Lifelong Commitment

When most people picture an absentminded driver, they picture a teenager who just got his or her license and is texting up a storm while behind the wheel. The very thought of teenagers on the road for the first time scares many adults. “Look out! My daughter got her license!” This is a message parents often post on Facebook, along with a photo of their child outside the DMV, holding their new license and beaming. Though it is often in a joking manner, this message stems from real fear.

What most people fail to recognize is that drivers of all ages and experience levels can have lapses in judgment or fail to pay attention to the road in crucial moments. I know this because the driver behind the wheel of a semi-tractor-trailer truck almost killed my grandparents in an extremely destructive accident caused by a lapse in judgment during a left-hand turn. My grandma and grandpa’s minivan was totaled, and my grandma stayed in bed for days afterward, badly bruised from the seatbelt that saved her life. Luckily, my grandparents are firm believers in “buckling up for safety” and never go anywhere in a car without wearing their seatbelts. The first-responders told them that if they had not had been wearing seatbelts, they probably would have been killed.

That day was terrifying for my family, and it was all because that truck driver failed to recognize that he did not have the room to make that turn and still pulled out. The man had been driving that truck for years, yet he still made an almost fatal mistake. This shows that no matter how long you’ve been driving, if you do not pay attention to the road at all times, horrible things can happen.

Driver’s education is extremely important; however, it cannot stop once the license is obtained. It is important that the lessons that are taught in driver’s education are carried with us forever, every time we get behind the wheel. One lapse in judgment can have horrific consequences, so it is crucial to always apply the safety lessons from driver’s education.

One step that can be taken to prevent deaths related to driving is driver’s education refresher courses. It should be recommended that even people with driver’s licenses go online every so often to review safe driving tips and practices. Education is key in every area of life, including on the road. I believe that driver’s education is a lifelong commitment. There are so many people who drive irresponsibly, and their justification is that they already have their license and do not need to worry about it. This is a very dangerous position to take.

Whenever we get behind the wheel, we must remember what we have been taught: be cautious during left-hand turns, come to a complete stop at stop signs, keep your eyes on the road, maintain a safe speed, do not text and drive, and much more.

To be a safer driver, I must continue to remember what I learned in driver’s education. I must never use my phone while driving and must constantly be focused on the road. I have never checked my phone while driving, and I never will. I am extremely cautious and will continue to be for as long as I drive because I recognize that the other drivers on the road might not be. I understand the importance of safe driving and I will continue to promote safety wherever I go.