Driver’s Education and Why it is Important

Driver’s Ed—the term that most high school sophomores get excited about. Their thoughts turn to freedom, being able to drive themselves, and not relying on a licensed parent driver to drive them everywhere they need. They feel a sense of joy and delight as they get on the open road, their rules, their time, and their schedule. They can go anywhere they desire. With newly licensed drivers, though, comes responsibility; responsibility to be educated in driving, as there are other people on the road and not just them. Being responsible in driving doesn’t only extend to new drivers, though. All drivers must take responsibility before entering the driver’s seat if they intend to safely arrive at the places they desire and ensure everyone else’s safety on the road.

               Automobile accidents happen every day, some minor, some major. “Approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes” (2013). Becoming a driver is not just about freedom and being independent. It comes with profound implications, and being aware of those implications and the danger of being on the road is the key to making travel by road safer. The more educated a driver is about the driver’s education, the less likely deaths may result. In driver’s education, we learn basic right-of-way rules and what moves to make if a stoplight can’t direct traffic due to a power outage or not being needed in that area. We learn about the importance of turn signals and their power as they demonstrate where the driver intends to go to another driver. The lack of turn signals and disobeying basic right-of-way rules are some of the reasons people get in car accidents. That is why it is essential to be educated in these driving factors to ensure road safety and not be selfish in driving.

               Steps that can be taken to avoid accidents and to reduce the number of deaths related to driving can be simple and complicated at the same time. Setting ourselves up in a distraction-free environment while driving is the number one step. So many people get distracted by the radio, their phones, climate control, windshield wipers, passengers, and much more. After all, driving is about multi-tasking, but that doesn’t mean people can be texting AND driving simultaneously. Complete focus is required while driving—even just thinking about different things can distract drivers from what is in front of them, and there is a chance they might miss something—a turn signal, brake lights, a pedestrian, and much more. While it is true that driving can become muscle memory after so much time doing it, it’s still essential to remain undistracted and focused while driving. Having a distraction-free environment while driving will prevent car accidents.

Sometimes, people must be educated in the art of defensive driving. Defensive driving is being able to maneuver or be prepared for a situation in which another driver is not following traffic laws correctly, is distracted, or has other conditions. One example of defensive driving is waiting a few seconds before passing a green light. Distraction can cause some drivers to be unaware that the light turned red on their side, and they realize too late that it is not their turn to continue down the road. The more we practice defensive driving, the more we can be prepared for other people’s mistakes on the road, avoiding car accidents as much as possible. Another way we can prevent car accidents is by slowing down when there are slippery roads due to snow or ice. Ice is slick, and I can cause anything to slide—even stuff as heavy as cars. The more we slow down, which is the least we can do when driving on snowy roads, the more we can avoid car accidents leading to death.

               One example of the dangers of distraction on the road was from my husband. He was involved in a minor car accident partially because he was distracted by the radio for a few seconds. It was not wholly his fault; his unawareness added to the damage.  This accident was minor, with no casualties or anything, just unhappy parents and the pain of losing his first car. He also had to deal with the other driver, who probably was unhappy. Another situation was when I was about ten years old. My older brother, who was fifteen at the time and learning to drive under his driving permit while driving with my dad, got in a car accident. My brother was not distracted by his phone, but the reason he hesitated at a stoplight may be because our dad, his driving instructor, was distracted by talking on his phone. He probably should have been giving my brother his full attention and helping him make decisions so he could avoid getting in that car accident. When I was nineteen years old, I got in a minor accident by ramming the back of a utility van’s bumper. It was snowing, the roads were icy, and the traffic was terrible. The snow was a surprise, happening in late March. I heard there were so many other significant accidents that day. I was in a hurry and knew I would be late for work. I was going faster than I probably should have been and lost control of the brakes. Before I knew it, I slammed. My car suffered through the worst of it and was totaled.

               There are many steps I can take to be a better and safer driver. After almost ten years of driving, I’ve had so many close calls and seen the negative impacts of car accidents and the consequences of some people’s choices. As I try to be a better driver, I can eliminate distractions like my phone. Playing several games on my phone has distracted me from driving safely, leading to close calls. I can avoid getting on my phone and telling myself that my life, my daughter’s life, and other’s lives are much more important than catching a Pokémon on Pokémon Go on my phone. I can continue to practice defensive driving and ensure I’m still paying attention as I’m driving, even though it has become muscle memory. As part of muscle memory, I no longer THINK about driving; I do it. It has become a habit, and it can sometimes become a dangerous habit.

               In conclusion, getting an education in driving is vital to staying safe on the roads. Those little things we tend to forget from class, like avoiding getting in the driver’s seat if you are upset, are also important. Drivers must be mentally and emotionally stable while driving so they are less likely to hurt themselves or others in their bad moods. Staying safe on the road is tricky, especially for other people, but I can be prepared for these moments in the best way possible and learn from my mistakes.