Importance of Drivers education

There are countless important aspects when it comes to driving, but one of the first that has an impact on drivers is driver education.

Most teenagers are at the age of 15 years old when they start driver’s education because they have a permit which allows them to drive with an individual who has their full license. Driver’s education not only allows the driver to learn and have knowledge about the rules on the road but allows them to gain confidence behind the wheel. Looking back most of us can say how excited we were to finally be able to hit the gas pedal and choose where to go but most likely had a little inkling of being on edge. Drivers education is extremely important to know that those who are behind the wheel have had the proper education to know the rules along with knowing what the right thing to do is on the road. This can decrease the number of deaths while driving. It was stated by the University of Nebraska that those students who completed drivers ed were less likely to be involved in a crash or receive a traffic violation within the first two years of driving.

Some steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths while driving are practicing and repeating the safe driving protocols. I think that as a whole we do a good job with sharing information as well as what to do while on the road. But I think the growing number of people who are on their phones as well as driving with headphones in is increasing. Not being able to fully hear your surroundings around you while driving a vehicle is not safe.

Some steps that can be used to prevent and reduce the number of deaths related to driving could be to require a good drivers education program in each state. Coming from Iowa we have a driver’s education program where we sit in class for a 30-hour program, then also add in driving times with our teacher. While the difference in Arizona is that a parent or guardian can sign off and say their child has successfully completed 30 hours of supervised driving practice. I think this is noticeable when coming from normally driving in Iowa then driving on the roads in Arizona. As well as a comparison according to the statistics of Arizona driving in 2021, there were 1,063 fatal car accidents compared to Iowa’s which was just over 300 fatal car accidents. This is a major difference in numbers. Thinking that Iowa has all four seasons you would initially think this state should have a higher number of fatal car accidents, especially in the winter with snow and ice on the roads. I believe that changing the drivers education programs to a mandatory class with a teacher rather than parents will help individuals get the proper education they need when driving on the roads. Some kids do not have parents who will teach them the proper way to and rules to drive which seems fun and exciting to get your license quicker but ends up causing more harm and danger to be on the roads.

I personally have never been involved in a car accident, thankfully. One experience I have with irresponsible driving that caused a serious accident within my family was with my grandpa. My Grandpa was the driver with my Grandma as the passenger who was pregnant with my father. My grandpa was under the influence which led to a tire going off the end of the road. The car then proceeded to flip and crush the car. Leaving my grandpa mentally disabled and my grandmother passing. Clearly, I was not alive at this time but seeing the repercussions of this accident have made me well aware of how important it is to be safe while on the road. Seeing the pictures from this crash that only involve one car was a tragic sight, let alone if there were to be another car involved. Since knowing how much my grandpa has had to recover not only physically but mentally has made an enormous impact on how important safe driving is to me. I as well as those around me should never want to put themselves or those around them in a position to have their life turned upside down because of a choice they made that was irresponsible. Choosing to drive under the influence is a choice that will not only affect you in that moment but could be an event that haunts you for the rest of your life. Choosing to call someone, an uber, or a taxi could seem as a burden in the moment but could save your life or those around you.

`There are a few steps that I personally can take to continue my safe driving as well as make it better. I always keep my phone on “do not disturb” while driving. I think it is the best option because if someone texts you or you receive a notification, it will alert them that your phone is on do not disturb or you can take a further step and have it tell them “Chiara is driving”. Also another thing if using directions from your phone, you could either connect this to your car or have it on speaker. I find this to be an easier way to still get help navigating where to go but allowing me to not look down at my phone continuously. Technology can be a distraction but can also be a helpful tool while driving that we can use in certain situations. On the topic of technology when driving with friends or family, continuing to remind them not to check their phone and that their text or call can wait until they are not behind the wheel.