In the Driver’s Seat

Jaina Johnson

November 28, 2020

“In the Driver’s Seat”

Driver’s education is a course that teaches the techniques of driving a vehicle, along with basic vehicle maintenance, safety precautions, and traffic regulations and laws. The principal goal of driver education and training programs is to produce “safer” drivers. Although this may seem essential, many teens or young adults have never taken this course when learning how to operate a vehicle.

After much research, a new study that followed more than 150,000 teen drivers over eight years has found that driver’s education significantly reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers. Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed.

“Teens taking driver education are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation during their first two years of driving,” the researchers concluded. “Because teen crashes and fatality rates are highest at ages 16-18, these reductions are especially meaningful. Driver education appears to make a difference in teen traffic outcomes at a time when risk is highest.” A prevalent response to address the complexities inherent in driving has been to ensure that the needed skills and capabilities are provided before full licensing is permitted. 

In 2018, an estimated 40,000 people across our country lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, the national safety council created a Safety 360 mindset as follows. The passenger(s) and driver should wear there seatbelt correctly, which reduces the risk of death and injury by nearly 50%. Never get behind the wheel if you are impaired by alcohol or other drugs. Always drive at a speed that you are 100% confident is safe. Never overestimate your ability to multitask. 

As a driver, I have never been in a serious car accident. However, I have been in a small altercation because I was in the wrong while driving. I was simply unaware of the rules. I started driving at 16, and while attempting to park, I hit a car because I did not know that there were up and down aisles. Because of this, I was traumatized. Three years later and I am still afraid to pull into a parking spot near cars.

If I were taught these rules by a professional, rather than driving with my father, this would have never happened. Now, I am very aware of everything that I do while driving because anything can happen in a split second. My mother always taught me that while driving I have to be cautious and responsible for every car and every person around me.

Personally, I believe that I am a good driver. However, I am not a safe driver. Sometimes I speed when I should be cautious of all the accidents that happen due to fast drivers. Also, I have lots of distractions when I drive. There is the phone, the radio, and the mind in general. However, I am determined to become a safe driver to protect myself and those around me.