Driver’s Education

The National Safety Council estimated in a report published in XXXX, that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020. This number will continue to increase if people do not take driver’s education more serious in days or years to come as it should be taken. Having a greater knowledge of driver’s safety can reduce the number of car accidents, because people will be more aware of the rules of the road and defensive driving against other vehicles. Unfortunately, when the pandemic started to take hold of the US, states postponed road test and once resumed, the standards became more lenient with the road test for people who needed their license. Many states even took away certain parts of the test so student would not have to be in the car for too long, to prevent the spread of the virus. The rate of accidents has increased ever since the outbreak of the virus. Driver’s education is especially important in every age because there are so many things you can learn throughout your years. Teenagers need to be pushed harder when it comes to driver’s education because they are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation during their first two years of driving. Teenagers are more emotional and unprepared when it comes to dealing with the effects of being or causing a car accident, therefore they should be more focused on driver’s safety.

There are many steps we can take to ensure that everyone is getting the proper amount of knowledge about driver’s safety. Everyone should take a driver’s education course even if they do not have a desire to receive their official driver’s license. A drivers education course ensures that future drivers are trained to recognize risk and potential consequences while driving and/or can assist or influence others to always be safe when behind the driver’s wheel of a vehicle. You should also try to study for your permit exam. Even though many would say, “it is common sense”, you should know how to back up your answers with information and evidence for the question. The permit exam is a good way to get people familiar with the rules of the road before they get behind the wheel. I would also recommend that people take a certified training course before they take their road test. You can focus better and ask questions when a certified instructor is teaching you verses dealing with the stress of a family member attempting to teaching you rule and regulations that they may or may not be completely familiar with due to changes in the law. Having a professional instructor also gives you the higher possibility of passing your road test on the first try.

You can take many steps to help you become a better and safer driver and help others become safer on the road. I have witnessed many accidents when a person was simply not paying attention to their surroundings. Defensive driving should be stressed more in school driver’s education and driving exams. Many accidents are caused by one person seeing another person coming at them last minute. You must be aware of your surroundings when driving around other cars. Another step you can take to become a safer driver would be to not drive while you are under the influence. No matter how intoxicated you are, you do not get behind the wheel. While you are intoxicated your reaction time decreases as your reflexes began to slow down. Your vison also become blurry, slowing the eye muscles down and altering its movement. Intoxicated driving is also a leading cause of accidents as you are unaware of what is going on while you are driving. By staying away from drugs and alcohol before you get into a car, you are saving the lives of many other drivers and their families. Drunk driving can land you in jail, hospital, or can cause death depending on the severity. A DUI conviction can stay on your record for years and prevent you from even obtaining a driver’s license ever again. You would have to deal with the fees and fines, high insurance premiums, court-mandated community service, and participation in drunk driving education programs.

Thankfully, I have not been in any fatal car accidents, but I have noticed many people drive irresponsibly. Many people text while driving even when they know the risks and potential outcomes. Texting while driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. You look down for three seconds, next thing you know you are spending the rest of your life paralyzed from the waist down. When you pick up the phone while driving your reaction times began to slow down. “Transport Research Laboratory found that texting while driving delays reaction times by 37%, while drinking to the legal limit delays reaction times by 13%.” Do you really want to ruin yours or someone else’s life just to read a text about something that is not worth your life? You should never think about even picking up your phone while driving. Statistics show that,” Individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are twenty-three times more likely to be involved in a car crash than other drivers.”

It should be noted that driver’s education is vital to the safety of future drivers. Drivers’ education should be focused on more and taught more to young adults who want to begin driving. Always remember to be aware of everyone else on the road whether it is a pedestrian or another driver. Another key factor of driving safely would be to put your phone down and away from you when you began driving to ensure your safety. You should also never get into the driver’s seat when you are intoxicated or under the influence. Driving while intoxicated could put everyone who is around you in grave danger. All these things are equally important in ensuring the safety of everyone who is on the road regardless of if they are driving or in the passenger seat.