The Importance of Driver’s Education and Safety on the Road

Driver’s Education is a very important learning experience for all potential drivers. It reduces the likelihood of an accident, which is important, especially considering the large amount of automobile related deaths. This occurs because of the ways in which Driver’s Ed is designed to educate students before they get on the road. The first portion of driver education is primarily focused on traffic rules and how to drive from a technical standpoint, as well as education on different road signs. This helps students understand the cues given by signs, as well as teaching them the more specific driving concepts such as right of way, how to correctly navigate an intersection, and what to do in the event that one hydroplanes, to mention a few. The other portion of Driver’s Education is the practical driving portion, in which students are placed in the driver’s seat for a controlled situation. This portion is important because it places the students in a situation where they have some control over the vehicle, but the instructor can also provide braking or grab the steering wheel if it is needed. This portion in particular helps reduce the likelihood of the driver causing or getting into an accident, by giving the student some experience with an instructor, prior to the student going to get a permit. This experience allows the student to better understand driving, and makes them less likely to cause an accident in the long run.

I have never been in an accident, but I have known people that have been and I believe being both safe and educated in the world of driving is very important. I have definitely seen some problematic driving behaviors that could result in an accident if left unchecked. The primary behavior I have observed, which could endanger individuals both in the car and those around them, is distracted driving. This comes in many forms, but I most frequently see it when people text and drive or when they are using their navigation application. There are definitely safer alternatives to this behavior. One alternative is waiting until the car is either stopped or parked to check messages. This ensures the driver won’t be running off the road trying to type out a message. Another alternative is utilizing voice assistants on smartphones. In the case of iPhones, one can ask its virtual assistant, Siri, to read out messages, by saying the phrase “Hey Siri,” followed by the request. Siri will then ask if you’d like to respond, which you can also do verbally. This alternative allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road, while also answering potentially important messages. As far as navigation goes, one can also wait to check this until they are parked, or if it is safe, one may pull over or turn into a parking lot. Another step towards becoming a safer driver is quite simple: pay attention to surroundings. This is important for many reasons. When driving on a road with more than one lane, paying attention to other cars as they change lanes, and as the driver changes lanes, is very important to being safe. One should pay attention to traffic lights, road signs, and other cars in one lane traffic as well. There also could be hazards in the road, which just makes it even more important to watch the road and your surroundings. These things are all important to pay attention to, and doing so will keep the driver safer. There are also multiple actions a passenger can take to help with driver safety. When a passenger sees distracted driving behaviors, they should discourage them. One could allow the passenger to send their message for them or help them with navigation, rather than doing it themselves, getting their eyes off the road, and ending up in a situation they’d rather not be in, where they could get hurt or worse.

Overall, driver safety and education is quite important. Driver education helps students learn to drive both through a technical portion that teaches about traffic rules and signs and a practical portion which provides the driver with actual driving experience, in a controlled environment. The education on its own isn’t quite enough though, and the driver still should avoid phone-related distracted driving, either by waiting to answer a message or utilizing a voice assistant when available. I believe if everyone is getting a satisfactory driver’s education, and is utilizing it, while also following safety guidelines, especially regarding distracted driving, accidents should be greatly reduced.