The importance of Driver’s Ed classes

Driver’s Ed Classes are Super Important

By Joe Santilli

I am glad that driver’s training is required. I was able to take classes and learn about the numerous rules and procedures before I started my actual driving with an instructor. I feel that it made me a better driver and added to what I already knew and what my parents taught me too. It’s crazy to see that on average 34,000 people die a year while driving, which is more than 5 of the 10 wars/conflicts the US has been in over the years. A lot of that is driving under the influence, but some of that is distracted driving and just plain bad drivers.

After having a year and a half of driving experience I know first hand that there are a lot of bad drivers out there and most of the time, they’re on their phone which distracts them while driving. Driving classes can only do so much to teach people about driving. I believe phones are the main reason people are bad drivers. Changing music, texting, talking on the phone, etc. are all ways a phone can be distracting and lead to an accident. I believe we have the right system here in Ohio at least, which requires new drivers to take many hours of drivers ed before getting their license.

However, I don’t agree with the rule that you don’t have to take drivers ed after you turn 18. If someone is 18 and going for their first-time license, I think they should be required to take at least some kind of class at the bare minimum so they are little bit more prepared. Mandating 18-year-olds taking drivers ed classes will reduce at least a few deaths, along with having a mandatory renewal test every few years after you turn 70-years-old. It is a well-known fact that older people along with new drivers/teenagers cause the most accidents. Since teenagers are already being tested before they get their license, I think elderly people should also have to renew their license with a driving test when they are about 70 and every five years thereafter to make sure they are still able to drive safely to prevent more accidents. I can tell you for certain that my 89 year- old grandfather would have gotten his license revoked had he taken such as test, thus putting the rest of my family at ease since he won’t willingly stop driving despite many near-accidents.

Although I’ve never actually been in a car accident, I have been in dangerous situations in a car. As a teenager, I know how tempting it is to be on your phone doing something dangerous such as texting or snapchatting while driving. I have been in a car where the driver was on their phone searching for different songs and I didn’t feel safe so I told them to let me do it. I’ve almost been hit a few times driving because the driver wasn’t looking out their side or rear mirrors. I don’t remember the instructor talking much about utilizing your mirrors in drivers ed so that’s definitely something else they can discuss more so that people learn the importance of utilizing the mirrors on all sides.

In conclusion, I believe there are some steps I can take to make me a better, safer driver and there’s definitely some suggestions I have to make others around me a better driver too. Educating and testing licensed drivers more often will decrease the amount of crashes an ultimately save lives. As a newer driver, some steps I can take to be a better driver are making sure my phone is away and on silent at all times to avoid distractions and always using the mirrors and every window so I’m aware of everything around me. Everyone should have to take driver’s ed classes no matter how old you are, and if where you live doesn’t care, you should fight for it.