Why is Drivers Ed so critical?

General statistics on driving related fatalities according to information provided by driving-tests.org states that each year around 1.3 million people lose their lives in car accidents worldwide, and traffic crashes can cause up to 50 million injuries globally per year. With paramount statistics like these, it can be assumed that eliminating the use of automobiles may be beneficial to the well being of the human population, however the use of driver education has become an important factor in this decision. Students who have not completed their drivers education classes are seventy-five percent more likely to earn a traffic ticket and twenty-four percent more likely to be involved in a fatal crash or obtain an injury according to a news article by the University of Nebraska. Drivers education prepares young drivers for the uncertainty and risks involved each time they get behind the wheel of a car. They become more aware of how their actions and those of others can have an impact on an entire life within seconds. By preparing them for this, we can work to reduce the number of deaths and accidents and make the roads a safer place for everyone. In order to achieve this goal, we must identify the progressions drivers must take. Each individual seeking to acquire a license must be instructed on principles such as how to operate the car, the types of dangers they will face on the road, and what to do in the time of an emergency. This knowledge will then lead them to the ability to be placed behind a wheel with a trained professional to derive real world experience. They then will be given the chance for a license, where rules will still be placed for safety- such as phone and navigational use, passengers that are allowed in the car, and age limits for receiving a license. Even those who do not intend to get a drivers license should still be educated on the topic. To individually become a better driver, we all must consider the safety of ourselves and others each time we decide to get in a car and drive it, or even ride as a passenger. Let’s examine a few ways we can all improve our driving skills and awareness. For starters, do not drive when you feel ill or influenced by outside forces, it can cloud your judgement and ultimately distract you from the road. We can avoid diversions that could lead to an accident. These include eating while driving, passengers in the car, and the use of cell phones. So far in 2020, almost four hundred thousand injuries have occurred due to texting and driving, and every one in four accidents was caused by the use of a cellular device while operating the vehicle. These are all examples of things that can be avoided and lead to safer driving habits for all people to follow.

As a teenager who drives, I understand the importance of driver safety. Although I personally have not been involved or exposed to an automobile accident, I have been exposed to the dangers of driving through others around me. Each year, my high school reenacts a car accident to portray the impact driving under the influence has. They select students from our class to play the roles of the teengers involved in the accident. This gives students a perspective that shows it can happen to anybody, and gives them an emotional connection through their peers. During this show, city officials from the police and fire stations help act out the scene, as well as EMT officials and ambulance drivers. Props such as the cars are brought in to show students the physical damage that can be caused by their actions.

By educating all people about the importance of safe driving, we can create a more secure environment for drivers and supply a more cautious approach when getting behind a wheel. The actions we must take in order to benefit can ultimately save a life, even your own!