Get Educated!

I can remember the rush of adrenaline in the pit of my stomach like it was yesterday. When I tapped the car in front of me, just hard enough to feel the seatbelt hold me back against the seat and to force me to slam on the breaks, I was scared to death. It was almost two years ago that I had this minor fender-bender. I had accidentally accelerated at a stop light before the car in front of me had. No one was hurt. No major damage to the cars. But, that experience scared me enough to change how I think about driving. Even though this was just a fender-bender, I never want to get into another car accident!

I’ve also been in a car with a friend who was driving 15mph over the speed limit on a small highway trying to pass another car. My heart was beating out of my chest and my fear was palpable. I had to just close my eyes and hope we didn’t wreck or get pulled over. I hated that feeling!

Like most American kids, I started driving when I was 15 years old. I took the North Carolina required driver’s education class to be able to get my learner’s permit. I remember being a little annoyed that I had to take a whole class on driving. I begrudgingly did all the assignments and passed the course. I was ready to start driving!

After I started driving with my learner’s permit, I quickly realized that I really did need all the information that I learned in my driver’s education class. Putting the information to use was tough! It was very different using the information in real time, in real life, on real roads. Applying the rules of the road was tougher than I thought. There was so much to think about while driving.

While I was practicing my driving skills in real life, my mom found another driver’s education program that she wanted me to take. I was stoked! I was going to be driving on a real dragway! In the program, I was able to practice different driving situations such as fishtailing, spinouts, stopping on a dime, and turning fast to avoid hitting something (at 35 mph!). It was amazing to be able to experiencing these scary situations in a safe environment. I immediately felt like I learned so much more than in the classroom. My confidence in my own driving was immediately boosted! In addition to driving, we discussed the dangers of drinking and using drugs while driving. We had to sign a contract with our parents that we would not drink/drug and drive, and if we did drink/use drugs and needed a ride home, our parents agreed to allow us to call them to come pick us up and they would not ask questions.

Because I had my fender-bender when I was16 years old, I had to take a mandatory driver’s education course. Again, I rolled my eyes. However, I really learned a lot! We discussed issues like driving distractions and peer pressure. It’s very tempting to look at your phone while driving or get distracted with friends in the car. In the class, we talked about these issues and discussed how to reduce distractions and what to say to people in your car to help lesson distractions. It was very helpful.

As a result of all these three classes I’ve had to take, I know I have learned a lot! There really is so much information to be learned about safe, defensive driving, which in turn can help reduce accidents and deaths related to driving. And although in the beginning I did not look forward to the required classes I had to take, in each class I learned more and more. I now realize the information I studied, the practice driving I did with my instructors, and the driving time with my parents all helped me to be a better, more informed, safer driver.

Most states require students to take some sort of driving class before getting their license. I fully support this requirement. Our use of cell phones nowadays is a significant factor in distracted driving, which can lead to accidents and accident-related deaths. Learning the dangers of distracted driving can help increase awareness and possibly reduce car accidents.

Other ways to spread awareness and educate people about safe driving is media campaigns. Using media, especially social media, is a good way to reach people young and old.

I have learned how to drive safely. I always wear my seat belt, I don’t keep my music too loud, I am always visually surveying what’s around me, I don’t drive more than 5mph over the speed limit, I tell my friends when they distract me, I keep my phone on silent and don’t use it while driving. I don’t drink and drive, and I know my parents would allow me to call them if I’m ever in a situation where I shouldn’t be driving. These practices, plus many more, help keep me, and others, safe.

The US Department of Transportation reports that almost 20,000 fatal car accident happened in the first half of 2023 (totals for the entire year aren’t published yet). I am hoping that by using all of the knowledge and skills I’ve learned from my driver’s education classes that I will help reduce the number of car accident-related fatalities this year and well into the future.