Drivers ed: The Critical Need for Implementation and Accessibility

Drivers ed: The Critical Need for Implementation and Accessibility

Nothing quite speaks to the joys of being a teenager like earning one’s license. As a teenager, a license represents many things: freedom, new adventures, even a realization that you are one step closer to adult life. However, we are often blinded by our excitement and fail to realize the dangers being on the road can represent and the importance of being not only a safe driver, but an educated driver.

Drivers ed is a crucial component to ensuring safety on the road and reducing the amount of accidents caused by recklessness and a lack of road knowledge. According to a study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, young drivers who do not complete courses in drivers ed are 24 percent more likely to be involved in fatal/injury related accidents, and another 16 percent more likely to cause an accident themselves. This statistic speaks directly to the correlation between safe driving and drivers ed, indicating young drivers who have undergone drivers ed courses and gained monitored road experience are more likely to be able to safely celebrate their freedoms on the road.

A solution to reducing this statistic is to simply say: require drivers ed courses in order to obtain a license. However, the problem of decreasing driving related deaths is more complex than this. Another UNL study found that while female and higher-income individuals are more likely to commit to drivers ed courses, factors such as economic status, ethnicity and urban/rural residence contribute greatly to the issue. The expenses of drivers ed and the time commitments present a problem for many, as it is unreasonable to assume drivers ed programs are affordable for all. Therefore, eliminating the cost of these programs and allowing for flexible schedules for learning proper road etiquette and more accessibility to in-person instruction programs allows for more educated drivers and less road-related accidents and deaths.

The freedom driving represents for young people is exactly why young people require drivers ed the most. I have been witness to irresponsible driving, often times bracing myself in the backseat of friend’s cars due to their recklessness, hesitant to voice my opinion in fear of being laughed at or my concerns being disregarded as trivial. I can remember afternoons after school, on the way to pick up food, my eyes glancing over from the passenger seat to see the speedometer nearing 65 mph in a 45. Quickly, I learned to speak up in these situations as recklessness on the road risks not only your own life, but the lives around you in unimaginable ways.

The steps to becoming a better and safer driver cannot be forced onto you. Realizing your own duty to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you represents the first step to educating yourself as a driver. Receiving the proper drivers ed is only one side of the equation. Road safety is a team effort, so lead by example by demonstrating safe driving practices and encourage those around you to do the same.

https://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study:+Driver%27s+ed+significantly+reduces+teen+crashes,+tickets#:~:text=Young%20drivers%20who%20have%20not,an%20accident%2C%20the%20study%20showed.