Drive You Crazy: But Not On the Roads of Course!

Driver education is important for teaching drivers to be safe on the roads. If drivers are not aware of the laws and “ways of the road” it could result in more death and accidents. 

For me, I feel as though having students practice driving is the best way to encourage safety behind the wheel. When I was first learning, we only did a few hours on a small course to practice parking, turning, etc., and a few hours of driving on the roads. I feel as though it would have been more beneficial to sit with an instructor and drive on the road for longer. Although we do practice driving with our parents, the help of an instructor is more beneficial because they are less likely to cause stress to the young drivers. Driving with my parents was very stressful because they were more likely to yell at me for my driving. This caused me to not like driving as much and to become unaware of my actions thus making my experience less safe for everyone. Teachers are more likely to be more professional while driving which will encourage healthy habits while behind the wheel. 

I have been in one serious car accident that resulted in me getting rear-ended. I was driving in the farthest right lane on the freeway when I noticed the bus in front of me start to slow down. I had enough distance so I safely slowed down. The car behind me must have either been too close or not paying attention because they rear-ended me which resulted in my car shooting into traffic. Fortunately, I was not hit by another driver (I still think it’s strange) and I was able to safely pull over. I had a totaled car and a crazy story to go along with this experience. The moral of the story, pay attention to what is going on all around you while driving. 

Whenever I am driving with a friend and I notice they may be driving unsafely, I tell them that their driving is making me uncomfortable. A lot of times, they are stubborn and don’t like being told what to do, but occasionally they will be respectful and drive safer. For me, I will make sure I am driving at a safe speed (I tend to drive a little fast) and am completely focused on the road the whole time. Even if I am practicing safe habits, you never know what someone else may be doing. This means you just have to make sure to be aware of your surroundings and other drivers to ensure a safe trip.