Why Wouldn’t You

Driver Education is a very important topic in our nation today, yet it is taken lightly. Every person should be required to take driver education. It’s easy to take the course, so why wouldn’t you? Yet many people don’t. With driver education, people would be safer on the road with the knowledge they learn, causing fewer accidents, and safer driving environments. So why aren’t more people taking it?

The purpose of driver education is to help new drivers be more aware of the road, learn the rules of the road, know what to do in dangerous situations, and become a safer driver. This can greatly reduce accidents because driver education equips drivers with the skills they need to know. Topics they cover in driver education are road rage, how to read road signs, how to be a defensive driver, and how to get rid of distractions. Each of the topics covered in this class could help decrease the number of deaths from driving immensely. Many people think that they don’t need driver education because they are safe drivers. Still, driver education can teach you more techniques that could save your life in risky situations, from distracted driving or driving while intoxicated. With this knowledge, you could be able to save yourself from an accident, keeping not only yourself safe, but also others around you.

Many things can be done to help reduce the number of deaths from distracted driving. Every new driver is required to take a 5-hour course before they can get their license. It covers the same things as the driver education course, but driver education dives deeper, ensuring you fully understand the skills needed to be a safe driver. If states required new drivers to take driver education to get their license, then there would be more skilled drivers on the road, causing fewer accidents. Another idea would be to make driver education a required class in high schools. This would require students to get a set amount of hours or practice driving.

I just started driving last year, and I have almost gotten into a few accidents. Some would have been because of other drivers, others would have been my fault. Being out on the road is a whole different ball game. Without driver education, drivers are ill-equipped to handle certain situations that arise. People like my parents and cousins have gotten into car accidents before. My father was hit on the side by a car running a red light. The woman was on her phone and never stopped for the light. Perhaps with more education, she wouldn’t have used her phone because she would know that distracted driving could lead to a deadly accident. Kids at my school are on their phones too as they drive home from school. As I head out of the parking lot I can see them on their phones waiting to go, sometimes missing the cue to go because they’re so distracted. If they would practice safe driving habits, then they could be able to prevent an accident and maybe even death.

Driving safely is very important to me. I have seen many people get into car accidents, some resulting in death, and I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to keep others safe. I made sure I practiced driving a ton before I got my license to make sure I had experience in certain circumstances. I have taken my 5-hour course and I’m planning to take a driver education class so I’m more equipped for the road. I think every new driver should invest their time into taking their driver education class, too. After you take the course you should also take time to practice the skills they teach you in your course. If you can make these skills muscle memory you’ll be able to avoid accidents better. New drivers can also encourage others to not drive distracted. If they see you practicing what you preach they are more likely to do it themselves, helping yourself and them. Some schools like mine have driver awareness week which encourages kids not to drive distracted.

Overall, driver education will help save so many lives. We would be able to reduce the number of deaths when people take the time to take a driver education course. Taking a driver education course is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe on the road, so just take it. It’s a small amount of your time for a lasting impact on our world.