Driver Education: Saving Lives Before Getting Behind the Wheel

Driver education is important to the safety of humanity in the automobile era. Today, almost everyone in the world owns some form of car, whether it requires gas or electricity. Cars come in many shapes and sizes, but every driver behind the wheel needs driver education to prevent injuries or deaths of people in or outside the car. The importance of driver education can be summed up in one word: Safety for the people in the car, people on the sidewalk, or kids riding their bikes in the neighborhood. An educated driver behind the wheel can help reduce the number of driving-related deaths. Education is important because it allows the driver to acquire knowledge and skills. Driver education programs provide individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate a vehicle safely. Understanding traffic rules, road signs, and proper driving techniques is essential for preventing accidents. Education is also important because it provides awareness of risks. Driver education helps individuals become aware of the risks associated with driving, including the dangers of distracted driving, driving under the influence, and other reckless behaviors. This awareness can contribute to making safer decisions. Therefore, driver education is important in reducing the number of deaths due to driving. 

Many steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. A good first step is engaging comprehensive driver education programs. Implementing and promoting comprehensive driver education programs can help reduce the number of deaths. The programs cover not only the basic rules of the road but also address issues like distracted driving, drunk driving, and other high-risk behaviors. Another step that can be taken is the enforcement of traffic laws. Strict enforcement of traffic laws is essential to deter violations and ensure that all drivers adhere to established rules. This includes monitoring for speeding, seat belt use, and other safety-related regulations. After all, driver education is meant for safety. A third step that can be taken is the promotion of defensive driving courses. Encouraging drivers to participate in defensive driving classes is a step a person can take. These courses can reinforce safe driving habits and provide additional skills to handle challenging situations. It is better to encourage drivers early to take a defensive driving class rather than after they get a ticket or, worse, commit homicide. Therefore, many steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving.

I have had my fair share of car accidents and irresponsible driving. I had an accident this year. I was driving home from basketball practice. It was about 4:00. I was looking at my phone on the highway when the next thing I knew, I had hit a cement barrier with the side of my car. I skidded a little bit, but I did not hit anybody, mainly because there was somehow only one other car on the highway. I was lucky to get home that day, with the car being the only thing that was injured, but it could have been worse. I have also experienced lots of irresponsible driving, mostly within my family. For example, parents sometimes drive with their knees in order for them to quickly check their phones. My dad specifically used to speed thirty miles over the speed limit when my sister and I were kids, and my sister took after him. My sister has gone one hundred miles per hour on the highway with me in the car. I am glad that no one in my family has died in a car accident, but that is not the same for everyone, which is why I need to take steps. 

I can take steps to be a better and safer driver, as well as help others become safer on the road. I can put my phone in my pocket and turn it on silent so I am not tempted to look at it. Especially in today’s digital age, so many kids, including me, are addicted to their phones—some more than others. However, phones are supposed to be technological advancements for the greater good, not ways for car accidents to increase. A way that I can help others is to encourage them to do the same. If they try to go on their phones when they drive, I can tell them not to do that. Even if they do not listen to me, I know I tried. Also, for my personal safety, if one of my friends is a reckless driver, I might have to decide to no longer ride with them for my own safety. Therefore, steps must be taken to make the road safer.