You will Learn, But When?

You
will Learn, But When?

By:
Grace Armstrong

In
my high school, like many around the United States, earning your
driver’s license is a rite of passage. The plastic card is a status
symbol displayed proudly in the halls. It is symbolic of freedom to
control one’s own whereabouts and on a much deeper level, to make
life or death decisions. The latter freedom isn’t quite as
appealing, but is incredibly relevant to new drivers. With an average
of 34,000 deaths as a result of driving in the US, it is more
important than ever that new drivers understand the dangerous reality
of operating a 4,000-pound motor vehicle.

Experience
may be the best teacher, but the high risks of driving leaves little
room for unstructured learning behind the wheel. Drivers Ed courses
bridge the gap between experience and knowledge. In these classes,
students can not only gain instruction about safe driving, but also
realize the associated dangers in a safe learning environment. This
is possible both in the classroom and on the road with an experienced
instructor. 

I
choose to take a Drivers ed class before getting my license,
and in doing so, I had the opportunity to learn safely on the road.
One evening, I was driving with my instructor. While taking a
left-hand turn, I neglected to yield to oncoming traffic. Thankfully,
my instructor hit their break before I came too close to any other
cars. Although we were not in immediate danger, it was humbling to
see how easy it is to become distracted while driving. I am now very
cautious to yield when necessary. 

Looking
back, I realized I had been distracted while driving in many cases
before this class. However, after learning to drive in a safe
environment with a qualified teacher, I am a safer driver as a
result. My experiences helped me realize that reckless driving kills.
I am grateful to have never been in a serious accident, although some
of my friends and family have not been as lucky. They have had
experiences resulting in crashes, injuries, and even death. My great
aunt was killed by a drunk driver. The driver chose to operate their
car under the influence, and hopefully they realized their lack of
judgement had extreme repercussions—the cost of a human life. 

I
encourage my friends and family to consider the consequences of
irresponsible driving habits, such as texting while driving,
speeding, or not putting on a seatbelt. As a passenger, I always
speak up when I feel unsafe, not only for the driver’s safety, but
my own as well. 

All
drivers eventually realize what is at stake. This only can come from
experience. Drivers can choose how they experience this realization.
They will learn it behind the wheel of a car, or not. Before more
human lives are lost as a result of reckless driving, I encourage all
drivers to consider the following. Before you turn on the ignition,
ask yourself, “How can my driving affect the people around me?”
and “Am I willing to accept the consequences of my actions?”