The Impact of Educated Drivers

The privilege of driving and the freedom it brings is a feeling that, in my opinion, cannot be replicated. The first time you fill up your tank, your first road trip, the first time you drive to school, and in most cases, your first accident. A risk every driver accepts and is aware of is the chance that you might, get hit, or hit someone. In most of these cases driver education could have stopped these accidents, whether it be an illegal left hand turn, a lane change in an intersection, or a U-turn that should not have been made.

Many young new drivers bypass drivers education believing they don’t need it or that it’s only for people who’ve been in accidents and need to clear their record. As someone who has taken driver’s education while having my permit I use and appreciate the knowledge given to me in those classes. The defensive techniques taught not only make sure you know what you are doing on the road, but how to react to the other drivers on the road and whatever curveballs they may throw your way while on the road. Many drivers come to learn that the most dangerous part of being on the road is the unpredictability that other drivers bring and those who aren’t equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive defensively can very easily fall victim to the interstate and become one of the many casualties suffered every year. The statistic of 34000 deaths per year can be avoided if more people took advantage of drivers education, whether it be taken as an elective in highschool or became mandatory in getting your license. Part of this becoming more accessible is if more highschools offered it as an elective still, as many schools in my area have given it up and are leaving it to the third party driving schools. If mandating drivers education to be taught in schools then many of our young drivers who are potential members of the car crash statistics can avoid it with the defensive driving techniques or just a better honed knowledge of the rules of the road.

A reason why I am an advocate for drivers education is because it gives young drivers a feeling of confidence while on the road which makes you drive more comfortably and more alert rather than in an anxious state of tunnel vision flinching at every lane change happening around you. My scariest experience while on the road came with an accident I was part of that took place during a left hand turn, a very routine, yet frightening procedure young, new drivers take every day. I wasn’t the driver when this happened, it was my good friend who was behind the wheel. He had his license for no more than 3 months at this time, I remember approaching the intersection in the left hand turn lane while the light was green, and not a green arrow. We approached the intersection and I noticed people crossing the crosswalk at the light we’re turning left into, I assumed the driver noticed them as well. I trusted him as a driver so when he proceeded to make the left I thought he would adjust to the crosswalk, which he did by breaking in the intersection. Next thing I knew I had headlights in my peripheral, and a curtain airbag to my head. The driver is screaming in fear and asking me what to do. I calm him down then we carefully exit to the sidewalk, call the authorities and wait for cops and paramedics to arrive. I got a concussion and The driver of my car got a 2nd degree burn on his arm. This whole accident could have been avoided if the driver simply looked and made sure before he took that left hand turn. I appreciate every day that it was not as bad as it definitely could have been. This whole incident made me a much more conscious and aware driver, as well as my friend who was behind the wheel and I’m glad we were both able to grow from the accident and become better drivers because of it.

What I’ve learned while dealing with drivers who lack confidence is to make sure you do not become another distraction they have to deal with while on the road. Driving is the most freeing feeling in the world, and at the same time it is the riskiest thing most people do everyday so why not take steps to reduce the risk for all motorists and make America’s roads safer by pushing driver education on every driver from the beginning.

Driver education is very important so I believe every American should participate in driver education to combat the statistics of deaths while driving, and make the roads safer for everyone who has the privilege to drive them.