The Life and Times of Driver’s Education

Driver’s education classes are critical for road safety. Teenagers are encouraged to take these classes to prevent accidents and deaths by vehicle. The goal is to teach safe driving practices. According to the Centers for Disease Control, car accidents are the third leading cause of death in America. This unfortunate statistic stresses the importance of knowing the rules of the road.

Driver’s education classes provide a variety of scenarios that encourage people to become more aware and alert on the road. While it may be exciting when teenagers finally receive their licenses, it is important that they know the implications before getting on the road. Passing the driver’s test is not permissible to be any less cautious on the road.

Road safety practices are the remedy to decreasing the number of accidents. There is no guarantee that there will never be another accident, but there are ways to prevent more from happening. One responsible practice is to avoid texting while driving. A text can wait, and is not worth risking lives. Another precaution is ensuring that every passenger is wearing their seat belt before leaving the parked position. Seat belts provide protection from bodies being ejected from the seat in case of a collision. Another very important precaution is having complete and undivided attention. The smallest distraction can cause extreme damage. Another very responsible decision – never drive drunk. If a driver has consumed alcohol, they should call a friend or someone to drive them home. Driving intoxicated brings harm to everyone involved. Finally, drivers should never tailgate. In taking my driver’s education course, my instructor informed me to “always be three car lengths behind the vehicle you are following” to avoid crashing if the driver in front were to make a sudden stop. These are simple rules that every driver should follow, no matter how long they have been driving.

I have recently been in a minor car accident, where I had merged into a left turning lane too early. I had realized my mistake and turned on my signal to merge lanes, making sure there were no cars in sight. All of a sudden, a car came out of sight and sped down the lane I was merging into, exceeding the speed limit, and side swiped the front of my car. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the accident resulted in a small scratch on both of the vehicles.

The steps I can take to be a better and safer driver is to always be alert. I should never assume someone’s actions on the road, whether it is making a turn or stopping at a red light. I should drive cautiously considering everything around me. Also, what I learned from my experience is that if I were to lose direction while driving, I should not overcorrect. I must keep going. Failure to practice safe responsible driving practices can yield negative consequences. Vehicles can be deadly weapons; therefore, we must take heed to following the rules of the road.