Becoming an Educated Driver

In tenth grade, just about every American high-schooler starts a class, Drivers Ed. Whether they have dreamt of driving their whole lives or just participating for credit,this is a shared experience among pretty much every school no matter its prestige or reputation.

As a student at an extremely small all girls Catholic school I experienced Drivers Ed completely differently. The majority of my class was there to learn and receive their drivers license, a privilege that would grant them freed.They knew that once they turned seventeen they would be gifted with a new car and a pass to go wherever they pleased. This class allowed me to learn about driving but not in the way it was introduced to me by family and in the media.

Every class we would open our 15 year old textbook and read each chapter with the occasional quiz to test our “knowledge”. While it was mandatory I felt the only information I learned were the basics, common sense. What I wasn’t taught was what to do in drunk driving situations.We were tested on what percentages of blood alcohol content were allowed, and to always have a designated driver but that is where the information stopped. Seeing as everyday 37 people die in a drunk driving crash and an accident happens once every 39 minutes it should have been discussed a lot more than it was.

Public schools are well-equipped in educating their students about those situations but my experience was different. I knew my peers at public school here doing driving simulations and real-life practice scenarios for drunk driving. More importantly they were exposed to the severity of driving while under the influence in situations like “Every 15 Minutes”. At my local public school after a drunk diving incident that occurred between 2 students at the school, the administration wanted to make sure this never happened again. Every year since the accident they stage a drunk driving collision starring their peers. The rest of the school watches the 2 peers drink too much, decide to drive, get into a deadly accident and attend their funeral. This scenario is a close to home way that helps the students visualize and contextualize the impacts of driving while under the influence. This simulation is in many public schools across America and is effective in educating sometimes ignorant high-schoolers about why this problem should be taken seriously.

While private and public school approaches to Drivers Ed are very different I recognize the difference of emphasizing the issue that drunk driving is in this country. If there were more demonstrations like these put in place students would see why it is never okay to drive under the influence and use their feelings during the simulations when it matters most. Drivers Ed may just be seen as just another mandatory class but it should be regarded as an opportunity to protect future drivers. The freedom of getting a license is exciting but,education is the first and most important step in reducing the number of drunk driving incidents and deaths.

In addition to real life scenarios, students should be truthfully taught the horrors of drunk driving. There are often only 2 extremes when it comes to drunk driving, as being brushed off or taught so that scares potential drivers who would be responsible otherwise. The first situation is harmful because while young drivers may think they are immune to accidents that is not always true with the misjudgment that comes with being under the influence.it also does not make a different if there are other intoxicated drivers on the road. The second extreme is negative because people should not be scared to drive because of the risk of accidents. With the right approach, drivers would not be scared nor overly confident on the road.

I felt unprepared in the primary stages of being a driver and this has impacted me. As I get older and am exposed to situations that may involve alcohol, I am reminded of the possibility of being at the hands of an unsafe driver. This fear can be stopped through proper Drivers Ed classes, that involve being transparent about drunk driving and unsafe driving in general.

Drunk driving may be the most pressing incidence of unsafe driving, however there are other dangers at hand. Distracted driving is another problem that can be reduced through education. The common idea of distracted driving is to not text and drive, but even things like talking to the passenger or loud disturbances can be distracting. All of these problems can take your eyes off the road, and in those moments you may be putting yourself and others at risk.

Incorporating interactive driving scenarios with distracting situations in Drivers Ed could put into perspective that centering on the road is of the utmost importance while you are behind the wheel.

These styles of teaching could make the difference between safe and unsafe driving, thousands of accidents, and the lives of innocent drivers and passengers. Drivers Ed is the one chance that new drivers are all captivated and eager to be taught, this focus can be used to entail a sense of cautious and alert driving in the new generation on the road.

Citations

Drunk driving. NHTSA. (n.d.). https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

Driver distractions. California DMV. (2023, August 18). https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/educational-materials/fast-facts/driver-distractions-ffdl-28/