The Necessity of Driver’s Ed

Every single driver is responsible for protecting the safety of every single person around them. Pedestrians, passengers, other drivers. Their lives could be forfeit with one mistake.

The harsh reality of vehicular accidents is that they can happen to anyone.

But nobody thinks they could be in a car accident. I haven’t been in a car accident. I didn’t think my mother could be in a car accident, she is a responsible driver. She was fortunate enough to make it out unharmed, after being hit by a much younger driver who wasn’t paying attention. The truth is, the ignorance of any driver on the road, be it for ten seconds or ten minutes can result in an accident.

This is why Driver’s Education is so important. Driving is always a high-maintenance and potentially lethal mode of transportation, which means informative, detailed education is the best way to create responsible drivers. If 34,000 Americans die each year due to car accidents, I would expect that number to be tripled in absence of Driver’s Ed. The process is simple: a Driver’s Ed course gives the driver all of the knowledge they need for safety on the road, and the driver will apply it depending on their level of responsibility. With this structure, the main issue is the driver themselves. Whether it be distractions, ignorance, or lack of awareness, a majority of accidents are the fault of the driver, and not the vehicle.

So how do we make sure drivers are responsible? I believe that the most effective way to thoroughly educate drivers and reduce deaths would be to include Driver’s Ed in high school curriculum. This way, students would have more time between learning the rules of the road and getting behind the wheel, thus more time to properly learn all there is to know about vehicle safety. Sadly, this can only be a hope for the future, as I don’t see school subjects changing soon.

As of now, all we can do is make sure to take the proper precautions around driving to reduce deaths. This includes maintaining your vehicle, checking your tires and engine, making sure you have enough fuel, checking your lights, and keeping everything in good condition. To do their part in reducing deaths on the road, drivers should always wear seatbelts, keep their eyes on the road, use turning signals, slow down on wet roads, avoid tailgating, look both ways and check mirrors. Drivers should never be distracted by their phones while driving and should pull over as soon as they can if they need to use it. Drivers should not be on the road if they are too tired and should use high and low beam headlights as needed. These are just a handful of essentials to avoid accidents on the road.

When It comes to my own responsibility of maintaining driver safety, I must follow all of the requirements I previously stated, and review my own driver’s ed course so that the information is fresh in my mind. I will inform my friends and family if they are not upholding driver safety. I will hold myself responsible to avoid my cell phone and keep my eyes on the road when driving, avoiding any other distractions at the same time. As everyone should, I will always remain cautious and follow the law, to ensure the safety of others on the road.