Driver Education Initiative – The Responsibility of a Privilege

Driving;
one of the most significant privileges attainable for citizens
throughout our country. Having the ability to transport yourself at
essentially any time and at your convenience is an exciting prospect
for many, and while the idea of getting a driver’s license carries
a positive connotation, it’s also important to consider the
responsibility that one holds with that license.

Good
driving skills are not instinct, rather they are taught, and the
process to attain a license or permit supplements one’s learning of
those skills to an extensive degree. However, practicing and refining
those skills lay on the driver. If many basic maneuvers in a car are
difficult for the driver to perform, odds are that they are
ill-prepared to be out on the road. According to treehugger.com, the
average American is overconfident in their ability to drive, with 76%
saying that they are good drivers, which is dissonant when coupled
with the fact that 93% admitted to unsafe behavior. In addition to
most drivers being overconfident, teenagers are more prone to being
involved in a car accident than adults. In fact, car crashes are the
leading cause of death for teenagers.

Establishing
good habits and a proper attitude for new and existing drivers could
make driving much safer for everybody, even those who aren’t
driving, such as pedestrians. The road is not the place to be
venting frustration or be clouded by anger; operating a vehicle
requires the driver to be focused. Before driving, it’s important
that the driver be in a clear state of mind, not distressed or
intoxicated by anything. Despite many initiatives to crack down on
drunk/intoxicated driving, many lives are lost every year to poor
decisions of others. A more punitive sentence for being convicted of
a DUI would more than likely be an effective deterrent to prevent
such accidents. In addition to poor choices, the lack of knowledge
about the road and its set of rules contributes to a lot of accidents
today. If drivers ed was implemented as a mandated part of
the highschool curriculum, the death rate for car crashes involving
teens would plummet significantly. Students would be more confident
in their knowledge of the road, and students who struggle with
understanding fundamental concepts can receive the guidance they need
before taking what they know into the driver’s seat.

I
have personally been afflicted by the actions of irresponsible
drivers, which has led to a lot of near-collision incidents, as well
as the injury of many of my family members. I work with my father,
and every time I go with him, it’s a 25 minute commute on the
highway. The amount of dangerous driving practices that I see within
those 25 minutes is incredible. It’s as if there are no
consequences to accidents on the road. It is for this reason that I
want to see more regulation concerning the privilege of driving; to
keep everyone as safe as possible on the road.