To be a Safe Driver

CJ Shelton 7/20/2021

To be a Safe Driver

In any young adult’s life, one of the biggest moments to happen is getting their driver’s license/permit. Many, myself included, want to drive around town or to a friend’s place without needing someone to give you a ride there. However, while most teenagers are so eager to cruise in their future vehicle, they don’t focus on the education needed for new drivers. This is a major issue because according to edgarsnyder.com, auto-motor accidents are the third leading cause of deaths in America for 15-20 year old drivers. Thankfully, the way to combat this is Driver’s Education because it lays down the foundation of driving in certain places or situations and having the ability to know and take care of your vehicle. There are three reasons that show how important Driver’s Education is the cause of accidents, my personal experiences, and how to become a safe driver.

The first reason that shows how important Driver’s Education is because of the cause of accidents. Knowing the rules of the road is important for all drivers because it can help reduce the death rates and incidents caused from driving. However, if you can understand the causes that lead to incidents can help make a driver safer on the road. One distraction that can mess with drivers is the environment inside the car. Things like blaring music, cellphones, or even friends, can disrupt a driver’s concentration on the road, making it harder for them to pay attention to traffic. Another distraction can be how the driver is feeling at the time. Emotions can affect a person’s thinking and response capability, depending on the emotion they’re feeling. For example, if someone is angry at someone, they will probably have a harder time to focus on the road since their thoughts are all jumbled up. Although these distractions can happen to any drivers, they can be avoided. These distractions can be stopped by turning down the music, don’t be on the phone while driving, or simply letting someone else drive you. Drivers will encounter distractions whenever they drive but if they know how to avoid them, nothing will distract them when they’re on the road.

The second reason that shows how important Driver’s Education comes from my personal experiences. I have been learning to drive for a while now and I’m very confident in my driving abilities. Although I’ve been practicing for a while, accidents can still happen to me or my family. I haven’t got into an accident or drove irresponsibly but I have witnessed other family members and friends driving recklessly on occasions. Sometimes when I stayed over at my older brother’s place, I remember that he would speed a little while driving, didn’t wear his seatbelt, and was on his phone at the wheel. Fortunately, he doesn’t take those risks anymore. Another person who I witnessed driving recklessly was one of my friends. They decided to take me home from an event and I was thankful for it but once the car started, I began to feel very unsafe and uncomfortable because they had music blaring and didn’t pay attention to their surroundings whatsoever. It scared me so much that once I got home, I swore I wasn’t going to do that again. It shows that anybody, even the people closest to you, can drive recklessly.

The third reason that shows how important Driver’s Education is how to become a safe driver. When any drivers are about to get behind the wheel, they need to know Driver’s Education so they can be a safe driver on the road. Every road or situation an inexperienced driver travels on has the capability to go in a multitude of different directions and situations that could arise so drivers need to know the basics on how to be safe during driving. Personally, I took a Driver’s Ed online course last year and it helped me learn about the rules of the road, weather conditions, signs, and how to take care of my vehicle. It helped me out a lot with my worries on how to drive but after taking the course, I felt I got a better understanding on how driving works. I think that all upcoming drivers must take a Driver’s education course before they can obtain a legal driver’s license and periodically, drivers need to be tested on their driving abilities. That way drivers can be up to date on their road knowledge and help reduce the amount of auto-motor deaths in accidents. Driving may seem scary and tough at first, but if they take the necessary time to take these courses, that driver can help make the world a better and safer place.

Those were the three reasons to show how important Driver’s Education is. I recently got my driver’s license and I’ve been looking back at how far I’ve come at learning to drive and it all started when I began the Driver’s Ed course. I wouldn’t have known anything that I know today if I didn’t take that course and I’m glad that I did take it. Driver’s Education is something I would request to my friends and all upcoming drivers because knowing how to operate safely on the road can help make that big life moment even better.