Name: Steven-Owen Kollas
From: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Votes: 0
The Importance of Driver Education
The Importance of Driver Education
A very important part of many peoples’ everyday lives is driving. We drive to and from work, school, the grocery store, and everywhere in between. We even drive just for the enjoyment of driving. With so many different drivers on the road, it is very important that drivers know and obey road laws, and know what to do in situations that may prove to be dangerous to them and other people.
The requirements of drivers education varies from place to place. For example, drivers under 18 in California must complete a Driver’s Education and Driver’s Training class. In Ohio, drivers must complete a total of 24 hours of drivers education, 8 hours of driving with a certified instructor, and an additional 50 hours of driving, 10 of which must be done during nighttime, and must follow several restrictions after they have earned their license. In the UK, many different restrictions are in place, as drivers are not required to take a minimum number of driving lessons. For example, drivers must follow specific speed limits when traveling in certain areas and must have an instructor with them in others.
Now of course, the question is whether or not these requirements are effective in creating safe drivers. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the total number of traffic fatalities in 2018 was 1,057 deaths for the state of Ohio. In California, the number of deaths caused by car accidents was over 3,000 deaths. In the UK, 1,770 road deaths were reported.
In order to create a safer driving experience, drivers must be educated in order to drive safely and know how to avoid and prevent situations that have deadly potential. Restrictions should be placed on younger, inexperienced drivers so that they do not find themselves in situations that they are not prepared for, such as high traffic on an interstate highway or extreme weather conditions. The more education we provide to future drivers, and even those who have been driving for years, the safer it will be to drive from point A to point B. Also, restrictions should be placed on certain drivers, such as young or inexperienced drivers, as well as those who may be disabled or impaired physically.
As a young driver, I have found myself in situations that I was not prepared for. In the winter of 2019, I got my father’s car stuck in a ditch after panicking and braking on thick ice. While I was not injured, the car suffered minimal damage and I was late to school. If I had more knowledge about driving in those conditions, I would have chosen a safer road to drive on or driven more carefully. I have also faced various other things while driving, for example extreme fog, heavy rain, and I’ve shared the road with other, erratic drivers. However, as I drive more and I learn things from other drivers, I become more and more prepared to drive in those situations.
I will make an effort to encourage good driving habits in my friends and peers, as well as other drivers on the road. I will also do everything in my power to drive safely while I am behind the wheel, as it is not just my life at risk. It is the lives of other drivers, and all of our passengers.
Sources:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/driver-training-schools/
https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx#gsc.tab=0
https://www.elkandelk.com/personal-injury/auto-accidents/2018-ohio-car-accident-statistics/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/675550/motor-vehicle-deaths-california/
https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive/taking-driving-lessons
