In
today's day and age, the most common form of transportation is in an
automobile. However, the third most common cause of death in the
United States is due to accidents, typically car accidents. Nelson
Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world”. This is specifically true to driver’s
safety. If the general public was more educated on the dangers
present and the precautions that could be taken the amount of deaths
caused by automobile accidents would drastically lower.

According
to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety less than 6% of teenagers
take drivers ed. Furthermore only 31 states require new
drivers to take a drivers ed course ad 15 states do not provide
an online alternative. States should take more of an initiative to
spread drivers ed. If all people were required to take a
drivers ed course people would take the responsibility of
having a driver's license more seriously and actively practice safer
driving habits. However, a drivers ed course should not be
a onetime act. In order to renew a driver's license drivers should
have to take a driver’s safety test to ensure that they are still
knowledgeable on driving laws and the standards and responsibilities
expected of them as drivers.
About
three years ago I was in the car with my older sister on the way home
from school. We were on the highway when she decided to turn up the
radio and not five minutes later did we smash into a stopped car
while she was going about 40 mph. My sister had gotten too
comfortable and had forgotten her responsibilities as a driver.
Because of this she did not see the traffic that was in front of her.
Education is powerful and if we properly educate our drivers the
result will be safer roads and more lives out of harm's way.