The Importance of Driver Education

Driver education is crucial to keeping our roads safe for young drivers.  Without it, we would be relying on opinions, the opinions of those who could possibly be teaching young people how to drive who they themselves may not be correct.   People need to be taught the proper ways to react to a yellow light, or a driver who may drive too close to you, or for other important scenarios.  If people do not attend driver’s education then they are missing out on information that could save their life.  Learning about when to signal, the different stop signs, diving with pedestrians or cyclists on the road, these are some of the many things learned in education programs.  There is no way to ensure that new drivers have been given all of the important topics covered while enrolled in a driver education program that follows a routine curriculum, if they are not required to do so.  The roads will become the wild, wild, west and people will begin to make up their own rules.  There are an endless amount of topics that someone needs to be familiar with, like the lines on the road, the signage, when to signal, proper parking, and so many more!  A driver education program will teach students all of this information and students will be quizzed and tested to ensure readiness to be a licensed driver.  

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, people need to drive without distractions.  Phones, pets, the radio, putting makeup on, being tired, or maybe just talking to a passenger can all be distractions.  A person driving needs to be fully aware of the road and their surroundings.  In driver education you will learn how a driver’s awareness will make a difference in accident prevention.  You may have more reaction time if an animal or a child comes into the path of your car.  You will be able to stop if you suddenly see brake lights.  You should also be weather alert.  A driver may need to warm up the car in order to defrost the windows, they may need to slow down if there is rain, sleet, or snow.  A driver should also be knowledgeable about car maintenance and safety.  Proper tire pressure, window wipers, and many other topics are necessary for drivers to be aware of and driver education will provide this. 

An impaired driver crossed a median and hit the vehicle of a teacher and basketball coach at my high school.  The impact caused him to die.  This was a fiery crash that almost instantly killed him and all because of someone who decided to drive under the influence.  This has greatly impacted my peers.  The funeral was held at the school.  His wife was devastated and now offers a scholarship in his name to a senior every year.  My sister has also been involved in a car crash leaving our driveway.  I also have been rear ended while turning into school by a mother who was distracted by her phone.  I could see in my rear view mirror that she was driving way too fast and was going to hit my vehicle.  All I could do, as I sat with my turn signal on while oncoming traffic passed me, was to brace for the impact.  All of these accidents stress the importance of safe driving and the need to always be paying attention because driving is a serious responsibility that should not be taken for granted.

I can be a better driver by turning down the music and paying attention to the road.  I have learned to slow down, put my phone down, and be a defensive driver.  I can help others by reminding them to do the same.  I can share my experiences with car accidents and bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving while riding with friends or while they are in my car.  I can help to educate my community about the number of deaths per year as a result of driving.  Anyone would be shocked to realize that the number of Americans in one year is more than the number of American soldiers who have died from war in Iraq and Afghanistan combined and that the number of Americans dying in car accidents over a two year span is greater than the number of American deaths from the Vietnam War.  These statistics alone are shocking and should scare all drivers into realizing just how dangerous and deadly our roads are.  Through driver education, my peers, community, and the entire United States, can learn the serious consequences of neglect while driving.