Utilizing Drivers Ed to Produce Safer Drivers

Utilizing Drivers Ed to Produce Safer Drivers

Terrence Crawford

August 1, 2020

Drivers ed plays a significant role in the youthful community allowing us to learn the rules and dangers of the road. The goal leaving the class sessions is to have learned what to do and what not to do on the road to be labeled a safe driver. Due to car accidents every year about 1.35 million people die and about 3,700 people every day. This is due to irresponsible driving and reckless driving. It is imperative that we understand how serious responsible driving is because we are not only driving for our own safety, we are driving for the safety of others. We are informed about distracted driving and that is the leading cause of automobile accidents. I have been driving for three years and I see people every day talking on the phone, texting, eating and putting on makeup while they are trying to concentrate on the road. This put’s other drivers lives’ in jeopardy as well as their own. I give much credit to the adults who teach us the information we need to know to become safe drivers, but it is on us as the students to be like a sponge and take in all the information. Some steps that could be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to car accidents is, people need to be more cautious about how fast they are driving, no distracted driving and follow all rules of the road such as, using turn signals, not running red lights and properly yielding. Also, the driving portions of the class should be longer because I know for sure mine was not my driving duration only lasted three days. From personal experiences I have not witnessed my parents or family members driving irresponsibly but I have had some conversations with some of my friends about being on their phones while behind the wheel, especially while I am in the passenger seat. I have been involved in a mild car accident when I was about nine or ten years old. My dad was entering the intersection through a green light and another reckless driver turned out of a corner store and hit us head on and drove off. Those types of events are the people we as driver must look out for. It is not always paying attention for our own good but for others as well. A couple seconds may not seem long, but it could be the difference whether you are alive or become a victim of a car accident. The age groups of 16-17 are the leading ages of car accidents because they are considered “inexperienced drivers”. I am still young and have many years to continue to grow as a driver, but I feel as if I am a responsible and safe driver. I learned a lot from my teachers and parents on what to do in certain situations and how to navigate on the road.