Drivers’ Education Prevents Mistakes and Saves Lives

Education prevents mistakes and saves lives

Education is absolutely necessary to reduce the number of driving related accidents, especially those due to ignorance of basic safety techniques. Drivers ed provides the knowledge needed to prevent mistakes — sometimes fatal mistakes — when on the road. When in the classroom, driving students have the chance to make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment. For example, knowing the meaning of various road signs and signals, how to check for cars at each intersection you pass, and how to signal properly before driving prevents accidents due to improper stopping or going. Requiring drivers ed over a person’s lifetime would probably result in much fewer accidents by reminding people of the rules of the road and the consequences of ignoring them.

Technology advancements could also reduce the number of accidents. While some technology (e.g. texting) contributes to accidents due to distracted driving, other advancements such as “do not disturb” on cell phones mitigate this problem. Driverless cars are also becoming a reality. These would reduce accidents because computers can control cars faster than humans in dangerous situations. 

While I have never been in a car accident, I have ridden with many irresponsible drivers. For example, one of my very good friends has a serious addiction to her phone which extends to when she is driving. This scares me because it seems like her phone buzzes every four seconds, and she has a compulsive need to check it even when driving. When she got an Apple Watch, this habit became even worse. Instead of checking her phone when she happened to hear it buzz and at traffic lights, she now checks every single notification because her watch is always in her line of sight while driving. She can’t talk when reading messages, much less drive. 

When riding as a passenger, I try to help drivers like my friend by continually reminding them to pay attention and that I feel unsafe when they distract themselves. I don’t believe that most people want you to feel unsafe, so they will take more care to drive responsibly. While this does not fix a distracted driving habit in a snap, it does help to reform the habit. Another tool I use for safety is to leave five minutes earlier than needed to get where I am going. This way I have extra time, so I don’t need to rush. Instead, I can plug in my music, adjust the seat and mirrors, and then start driving. The worst that can happen is to arrive five minutes early.

While I believe that most people do not intend to be irresponsible drivers, many are, which poses a danger to everyone on the road. In order to combat this, drivers ed is essential, as is following the rules of the road and minimizing distractions. It is important to remember that every decision we make as drivers has consequences, some of them fatal. 

The most important aspect of drivers’ education is convincing people that they need it.