The Importance of Drivers Education

Driver education is the sole factor that we can take action outside of the car to prevent accidents while on the road. While spatial awareness and making sure your car is functioning at full capacity are very important in their own respects, overall knowledge of road rules taught by driver education professionals is imperative to reduce the numbers of deaths caused by driving accidents. In my personal experience as a resident of the state of Ohio, I was required to take drivers education classes totaling up to twenty hours of class time and pass a written test. Only twenty-three states require driver education courses for all new drivers. The knowledge provided in these courses can shed light on some of the more nuanced situations drivers come across, such as what to do if a light stops working or how to pass on a two-way road. Another major point provided in these classes is the appropriate reaction to the more than five hundred types of road symbols that can be found in the United States of America. An individual’s absence of this knowledge endangers everyone on the road and contributes to the possibility of an accident.

The steps that can be taken in order to prevent any form of accident or severe injury caused in relation to driving are as follows: First, the national government should consider passing a mandate in which a grant will be given to the states that have set up or plan to set up driver education programs. Through this, many of the twenty-seven states that do not have mandated driver education programs will have an incentive to create one. Once this is complete, each state will have to refer to a government-set curriculum for driver education that covers the basics of signage, car operation knowledge, speed limits, and hands-on practice. From there, each state will be able to add on for regional differences and specific legislation in the state. For example, Florida would have hurricane protocol taught, or states like Maryland and Minnesota would have heavy ice and snow covered extensively. This plan intends to reduce the projected number of poor drivers with sub-sufficient driving knowledge on the roads and therefore reduce driving-related incidents and deaths. In addition, on a personal level, people can promote in-school driver education classes to their communities in order to provide access to driver education in smaller or distant communities.

I have been in one small accident in which no one was injured. The accident took place in a parking lot in which my car was in park and was backed up into by another person. I was deemed not at fault by insurance, and repairs went along smoothly. While the accident was not my fault, I could have taken precautions to protect my vehicle by not parking in the front of the parking lot during a heavily busy time. My father has been in multiple more extreme car accidents and stressed to me how it has affected him, from his back and neck issues to mental issues. This was a large part of why he wanted me to drive twice the required amount with my permit in multiple kinds of weather to ensure I was prepared to be on the road by myself and make the split-second decisions necessary to protect myself in dangerous situations.

The steps I can take to become a better driver are to focus more on my surroundings and remember to consistently check my side mirrors. I do well to check my rear view mirror consistently; However, I find myself neglecting the sideview mirrors. I have found myself starting to not focus as much on trips on roads I consistently drive on. This can be dangerous, as a study conducted by a study has found that seventy-seven percent of accidents happen within ten miles of the driver’s home. So while I know the roads, my lack of focus does not account for any new hazards or situations caused by other people on the road. Finally, to hold myself to a higher standard and help others be safer on the road, I can discuss road safety with anyone in general conversation in order to keep awareness for road safety high among the general population. This will help to keep a rational sense of caution for at least that person’s next trip, which could be the difference between them getting home safe and causing or being involved in an accident.