Real Consequences

Drivers education classes are crucial in reducing the number of deaths that come as a result of car accidents. These classes make sure that people not only know the rules of the road but have an in depth understanding of them. People learn the reasons these rules exist and, more importantly, why they must be followed. A simple example of this is the purpose of a stop sign. In a driver’s education class, the student is told to stop at a stop sign before continuing in whichever direction they choose; however, the class takes it a step further and shows images of the consequences of not following this basic rule. Pictures of mangled cars are displayed on the screen. Driver’s education classes are important in reducing the number of driving related deaths because they give students get an abrupt and often ugly glimpse at what real consequences there can be if simple rules are ignored.

Driver’s education classes teach simple steps that can be taken to reduce the number of driving related deaths that occur every day. Some of these are well known; driver’s eyes should stay on the road, no texting and driving, check the cars blind spots before merging, etc. There are lesser known steps that new drivers learn in the actual driving section of the class, which for many is the first time they have ever driven. Some of these are; turn loud music down or off when the road becomes busy or when driving in an unknown area, the drivers seat is not the middle of the car if a car is driven as if it is then said car will be uncomfortably close to the shoulder of the road, and no matter how empty the street seems, look right and left before turning or crossing the road. These are simple things that everyone can remember to be better and safer drivers.

A childhood friend of mine lost her brother to an irresponsible driver when we were little. He was not even seventeen. Her and her family had been driving on the interstate when their tire was punctured. They pulled over to the side of the road to change it. Her brother got out with her mother to help change the tire. While doing so he was struck by a drunk driver who was not paying attention and who fled the scene. He was airlifted to the hospital, but did not make it. This was devastating to the family. The other children had watched it happen from inside the vehicle. The drunk driver was eventually caught and tried, but this does not return my friends brother to her. Nothing can.

Safe driving is often taken for granted or thought of as boring or unnecessary. People believe nothing bad has ever happened when they did not stop at the stop sign, and so nothing bad will happen this time. This could not be more wrong. Drivers education classes help alert people that safe driving actually SAVES LIVES.