The Importance of Driver’s Education

Katelyn Danner

2020 Driver’s Education Essay Contest

November 2020

The Importance of Driver’s Education

Teenage years hold a wide variety of experiences. So much is changing, and we begin to have a taste of independence. If you are like me, the very moment you turned 15, you were thinking about and preparing for a permit. Once we get it, most of us learn to drive by our loved ones and family members. They warn us of the risks and dangers that we may face. When your 16th birthday finally came, you were rushing to get your driver’s license. You know how to drive now, right? Well, you might have thought so until you got on the road.

Data tells us that more people die in just one year due to driving mistakes than all of America’s fallen war heroes who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Now we see why some of our loved ones were wary of letting us be on the road. Highways are the final destination for too many. Often, these are avoidable mistakes. I understand that many people do not have the money or do not wish to pay for driving education, but it is needed to lower the lives lost on our roads. Gaining a driver’s education is not all about you. Yes, it’s true. You may be the most skilled and safest driver in the world, but safe driving is beyond you. Taking these driving classes equips you for when others are driving recklessly, teaching you the safest options to avoid getting hit. You learn to think quickly and drive defensively to avoid dangers when others do wrong. By taking these classes, you can prevent a wreck even if it is not your fault. Even when a sudden emergency happens, you will know what to do because of the driving courses. Getting a driver’s education will save you and someone else’s life, preventing needless fatalities.

To reduce the number of deaths due to driving, we must make it necessary for new drivers to take a driving course. We may be warned and aware of the risks or the road, but we can always learn to maximize our preparedness to diminish the fatality rate. A driver’s education course should be mandatory to receive the permit test and registration. Along with this, we should change our mindset, continuously planning our actions in case of an emergency. Taking a driving course will teach us that.

I am grateful to say that I have not been a part of a car accident. However, I have witnessed reckless driving tactics within my own family. Poor turning, lack of signals, speeding, and being on the phone are a few examples. For me to become a better driver, I take note of the driving mistakes that I have witnessed, and I try my best to avoid doing the same thing. I constantly monitor my speed, use proper signals, look before turning, and if I need to be on the phone, I take care of calls and music before I begin driving. Steps that I can personally take to become a better driver include being calmer, analyzing my surroundings to be better prepared for emergencies, and being aware of what I am doing at all times. I must work on becoming calmer as I drive because, in all honesty, I have a fear of being pulled over and of being hit, but I must switch my mindset and just make sure that I am driving safely and ready to avoid danger. This comes from analyzing my surroundings so that I know where it is safe to pull over. I can also work on being aware of what I am doing by keeping an eye on my speed, (we all unconsciously drive too slow or speed at times) by using proper signals in a timely manner, and by refraining from grabbing my phone at all. I make conscious efforts to help others as they drive by watching the side mirrors, helping them park, warning them of oncoming traffic, and either reminding them to stay off of their phones or handling their phone for them. I hope that by my driving practices, I will put a good influence on my younger family members so that as they begin to drive, they will take a safe driving course and drive responsibly.