Driver’s Ed Plays a Crucial Role in Promoting Road Safety

Since vehicles are an integral part of society, I needed to learn traffic laws to not become one of the reckless drivers who would end up on the news. Driver education played an important role in equipping me with the skills needed to drive safely. It taught me the very real risks of driving carelessly and how that could change my entire future. Driver education informed me about basic knowledge of traffic laws, understanding how to operate vehicles, and promote responsible and safe driving. These three skills will play a crucial role in preparing me with the skills required to drive safely in our modern world.

Knowledge of traffic laws teaches new drivers about local, state, and national traffic laws. I learned about speed limits, the right of way, and what each road sign means. By ensuring that I was informed of these rules, I could ensure that I would not end up in an accident. In a study by NHTSA, National Traffic Safety Administration, 94% of motor vehicle accidents are caused by human errors, most commonly as, speeding inattention and recognition errors. Recognition errors occur when a driver misjudges the distance between themselves and another car. Driver education taught me to always pay attention.

After learning about the basics of driving, I decided to take my knowledge a little further. I took a driving course hoping it would prepare me even further. During the lesson, I learned many things I had not known beforehand. The first part of the course helped me learn to maneuver a car in small spaces and to parallel park. I had never tried parallel parking before so it took me a few tries. It taught me how to fit my car into small alleys. The second part of the course was all about high-speed driving. I learned how to swerve, keep a safe distance, and how to slow down properly when going 75 mph.

The last part of the course was probably the easiest, but most important part of the course. It talked about the dangers of inattentiveness while driving. Although texting or using a phone was the most common example, anything that would divert my attention from the road would be a danger. Simple things such as grabbing water, answering a call, turning on the radio, or even bluetooth pairing my phone to the car. The last section outlined the importance of being attentive while driving. The course opened my eyes and taught me what real driving looked like, even though it had only lasted for a couple of days.

After taking the course, I was now more sharp and more aware of my surroundings. I had noticed more people using their phones, or doing things that would divert their attention from driving. Most commonly, it would be when I was driving with my friends. They would laugh, make jokes, and be on their phones when driving. I did not want to point it out for the particular reason that it would seem ‘uncool’ but I later realized the real dangers I was facing. I was putting my life on the line just to make my friends like me.

Luckily, I have never been in a major car accident. The only time we have had an accident is when my father hit a deer when we were coming back home from a road trip. It was early in the morning around 5 am. The deer was walking along the side of the road and then it suddenly lunged onto the road, or so my parents say. I have no real memory of us hitting the deer as I was asleep and woke up to the inertia of my body moving forward whilst the car stopped. I was very fatigued and my brain felt fuzzy. My parents called our insurance company about our accident. The company sent us a tow truck and gave my parents a temporary car. I do not remember much of the accident and it all felt surreal.

Ever since that accident, I have been extra careful when in a vehicle, whether I was driving it or not. That incident inspired me to speak out when I see a danger when driving. I was not speaking out when I saw my friends texting while driving or being inattentive. Although my friends thought less of me, I felt proud that I could speak up and was looking out for my safety, and I was looking out for them whether they appreciated it or not. As I started college, driving became more significant in my life. I had to now drive everyone, to the store, gym, and to school. I am now very thankful for all the lessons I have learned about driving over the years.

To sum up everything that has been stated so far, investing my time in driver’s education was well worth my time. It equipped me with the skills necessary to not only get to my destination but to be safe when doing so. I believe that we can reduce the number of accidents each year if we enforce driver education and make it more advanced. Together, we can bring the number down from 2 million to hopefully as little as possible. I want to live in a world where one minor car accident makes the news headline because of how rare and uncommon crashes become.