Learning to drive
can be exciting, and of course the best part is when a new driver is
eligible for a driver’s license. But wait, Just because a person is
old enough to drive, doesn’t mean he or she can just jump behind
the wheel and drive anytime they want to; there are many steps to
take before being cut loose. What every driver should know is that
driving is not a right- it’s a privilege with potential life or
death implications.

In most states,
Drivers ed is required for new drivers. For example, in the
state of Georgia, a law called Joshua’s Law was enforced, requiring
teens to hold an instructional driver’s permit for a year and a
day, complete a thirty-hour Drivers Ed course, and forty hours of
driving, including six hours of night time driving. The importance of
the course is for teens to learn and understand the rules of the
road, how to operate a vehicle, speed limit, what not to do while
driving and much more that they never knew. This all pays off because
teens will be able to apply what they learned while on the road,
having them avoid car accidents and receiving traffic violation
tickets.


According to the
Association for Safe International Road Travel, nearly 1.25 million
people die in road crashes each year, with an average of 3,287 death
daily. Despite the statistics, there are many factors that contribute
to this issue: texting while driving, reckless driving, speeding, or
simply being absent-minded. Every driver should know that driving
requires their undivided attention, because just one second of dozing
off can lead to a fatal crash, resulting in serious injury or death.
In order to reduce the number of car accidents, drivers must refrain
from distractions such as using cell phones, eating and more since it
draws their attention away from the road.


Fortunately, I have
never been involved in a car accident, however, I have witnessed
several of my friends driving irresponsibly. For instance, last
summer, a car filled with a driver and four other passengers was
zooming down the neighborhood. The speed limit was twenty-five miles
per hour, but the driver was dashing down the road as if he was in a
race, which was dangerous. Luckily, there was no accident, but he put
himself, the passengers and other neighbors walking along the road in
jeopardy.


Of course no one
will become an expert at driving overnight, that’s why they say,
“Practice makes perfect.” It takes years to become an experienced
driver, but in order to get better, teens must practice driving on
the road daily, including at night. They must have a parent, guardian
or driving instructor in the car with them so that they can point out
the mistakes they make, so that they can improve. To help others be
safer on the road, drivers should drive carefully and avoid speeding,
using electronics, aggressive driving, and other things that will put
other drivers in danger.