What I’ve learned in boating school is…

Driver education is important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving by teaching people who have never operated a motorized vehicle the basics of, at the very least, driving down the road safely. Imagine a world where drivers education wasn’t required and anyone who can afford a car could drive. (Anxiously looks around because if you are over 18 and can afford the insurance you can get licensed to drive a car in most states without drivers ed) The throttle control would be sporadic, the braking would be jerky at best. Combine these two variables with a jolt of adrenaline when one is faced with a sudden something and then its a mere matter of time until they crash their new car in a ditch somewhere, or run a stop sign and t bone a bus full of children. Extreme, sure, but this is not out of the realm of possibility. Drivers education ensures people who are behind the wheel on public roads are on the same page.

Steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is first and foremost, make sure everybody knows the basics of driving a vehicle! Maybe, taking it a step further, start requiring some sort of skills course with cardboard pedestrians that pop out chasing bouncing balls or a deer on a zip line that zooms across the course to teach drivers real life reaction skills. Driving a car is much more than just pushing opposing pedals, one for stop one for go, turn the wheel and hey! You’re at B! There are so many variables on the roadways today if someone is properly prepared for the hazards that be then we can reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Drivers ed should also teach people to drive at night or that time of day when the visor doesn’t quite block the sun but its also a little too dark for sunglasses. People get in accidents simply because they didn’t see something so they didn’t react to it. If the nation took these steps 1. Make sure drivers ed is teaching people the basics of driving 2. Developed some sort of realistic reaction module to properly prepare drivers for the hazards of road travel and 3. Made sure we are also learning to properly drive at night then the number of deaths related to driving would be reduced.

I, personally, have never been in a car accident (knocks on wood) but I do see my girlfriend driving irresponsibly. For instance, when approaching an intersection where someone is stopped at a stop sign to the left or right inching a little too forward like people always do, she doesn’t ever let off the throttle. In this situation I would ease off the throttle and prepare to JAM those brakes just in case Auntie Annie is feeling lucky today and also late for bingo. Maybe my girlfriend takes her eyes off the road to read a text I’m sure isn’t important from time to time or maybe she gets distracted easily (squirrel) and takes her eyes off the road but I wont just write this essay grilling her imperfect driving habits because I am also just as guilty as she is. You know what they say about glass houses.

Steps I personally take to be a better and safer driver are 1. I make sure my car is ready to drive before I drive it. I make sure all the lights blink on cue and the tires are properly pressurized. 2. When I get in the car I wear my seatbelt, in fact, I feel naked without one. 3. I drive defensively meaning I assume everybody on the road is trying to hit me on purpose and so I drive with my hands on the wheel and my head on a swivel. 4. When I’m in the car with my girlfriend and she pulls out her phone I ask “cant it wait?” As I jam my imaginary brake pedal and brace for impact at every intersection.

All in all driver education is important to make people aware just how dangerous our little transportation boxes on wheels really are. Too often do I see people making evasive moves when nobody is chasing them, see people with their eyes on a gps or a phone screen instead of on the road. I live on a busy street and I hear screeches from tires and honks from impatient horns day in and day out. It only takes a split second to end a life in a car and being seriously injured is, well, serious. Drivers education, hopefully, makes people more aware and careful behind the wheel so when they go to drive from A to B they can get to wherever their B is safely.