The Importance of Driver’s Education

The Importance of Driver’s Education

With millions of people on the road everyday all over the globe, it is essential to be safe behind the wheel. Motorized vehicles are extremely dangerous at minimum because of their size and weight. Partnered with speed these vehicles are rolling death traps. The highest number of crashes happens in the 0-16 and 65+ categories. The first category should be the safest since it is the time when people are going through driver’s education. Many deaths are caused by not knowing simple rules of the road, such as one way streets and four way stops. Driver’s education is a resource so that these types of fatal accidents can be avoided. Driver’s education can only help; it cannot harm anyone. Driving related deaths are at a high number that should not be that great. The rules of the road are universal and anyone who learns them should be able to drive safely and responsibly. Rules such as ‘no drinking/ texting while driving’ are logical rules that are ignored because of convenience and the thought process of but it won’t happen to me. Driver’s education is a course in which teaches learners that they are not ten feet tall and bullet proof.

Some simple steps that may be taken to ensure that the vehicle mortality rate decreases are going to driver’s education, standardizing the education process, and continuously refreshing one’s knowledge on rules and regulations (standard and new). In order to get a driver’s license, drivers must go to driver’s education. However, there are different way in which to go through driver’s education. One way is to go to a traditional in person class in order to gain hands on experience and ask questions in real time. The other way is to take online classes with a third party provider. This option may provide convenience to the student, but it eliminates the knowledge that is gained from being in a classroom setting with a teacher who can provide immediate resources. The second way to help lower the mortality rate would be to standardize what requirements are needed for driver’s education. Some states require a certain amount of instructor supervised driving hours and class time while other require something different. This inconsistency leaves room for interpretation on the road. Driver’s education should prepare its students for the real world to the best of its ability. Being standardize with the requirements to obtain a driver’s license would ensure that each new driver on the road knows the rules and regulations. Lastly, each individual driver should be refreshing their knowledge on the rules. Old rules that may not apply to everyday life, but could save a life in that rare occasion when the driver runs into it. Drivers should be aware if new rules are implemented, new roads and their natures for example. This refreshing will make sure that drivers never have an excuse in not knowing the law.

I personally have never been I an accident but I have friends who have been. One of my friends crashed her car the night of homecoming with another person in the car. The driver was busy trying to grab something off the ground while loud music was playing. Both were fine but the driver had a concussion. I was furious because no one should gamble with their life or the lives of others. These two girls my age who are my friends could have died and they would have left behind many grieving people. It scares me to think that someone could leave this world that quickly. My dad drives a motorcycle and he has been teaching me to ride around our property. During my lessons he teaches me about the dangers of the road for a motorcycle rider. Too many times has he almost been hit because drivers around our town ignore stop signs on blind corners or simply do not look for him. He has shown me news articles about motorcycle riders who have been hit by cars because of the drivers or because the riders believed themselves go be faster. Being someone with a driver’s license and knowing a motorcycle rider, I understand just how quickly someone could get hurt because of negligence.

I myself have been trying my best to stay on top of the news in order to make sure that I am aware if there are any new laws of the road that I need to be concerned with. Being related to a motorcycle driver, I try to keep a strong lookout for smaller vehicles and pedestrians. In order to become a better driver, I need to follow the example of other cautious drivers. I can hold others accountable by calling them out when they are ignoring the road or driving erratically. I am not afraid to call out an adult for reckless driving if it means that I could save someone in the process. Age should not define wisdom when it comes to driving. If anything, older drivers are more likely to become less vigilant because they feel comfortable on the road. A driver should always be on alert; scanning the road, ready to react to anything that comes their way.