The Importance of Driver’s Education

Driver education makes a huge difference in today’s day. Driving is such a necessity in ever bodies daily life, However, people don’t take it as serious as they should. Why is there always such a rush to get somewhere? Why is it necessary to be rude and obnoxious on the road? If we can provide more education and resources then people will better understand the need for safe driving practices. If more people understand the laws, common practices and defensive driving techniques the roads can be safer, and fewer accidents will occur.

Drivers need to be held accountable to make it safer on the roads. In Colorado street cameras were voted against, and I see people running red lights, speeding and driving recklessly on a daily basis. It makes me wonder how people can be so ungrateful with the gift of life that they play with it either that or they think nothing can happen to them. I was that way too though, I’m in no position to judge. When I was younger I made the same mistakes, and through experience and better education, I learned to be a safer driver. We can help others learn from our mistakes and help them avoid it from happening to them. More classes and panels should be offered and kids in school should have those opportunities as well to learn from an early age what being a responsible driver looks like and why it’s so important.

In March of 2019 I went out to the bars with some friends, and we took an Uber to downtown Denver. I left my car at a friend’s house that night. We had drink after drink and yes, I ended up drunk. I blacked out. Next thing I remember I was driving, and I see flashing lights behind me. Apparently once we arrived back at my friend’s house in an UBER. I ran back to my car and sped off. While driving I ended up just barely tapping a police car while he was off to the side in the right lane. I was so drunk that I didn’t even realize I hit the car, so I kept driving. Long story short, I got a DUI and went to jail that night. I couldn’t help but think about what I had done and how much worse it could have been. I could have hurt or even killed someone, I could have killed myself and I’m someone’s mother. I was completely irresponsible and careless and still till this day I don’t even remember getting in my car and that is horrific. Now in the year of 2021 I’m still dealing with the consequences of drinking and driving and still will well into 2022. Dealing with my DUI consisted of classes and panels and I learned so much. I attended a drunk driving panel where an older gentlemen talked about how he lost his niece due to the decision he made to drive drunk. When someone looks you in the eye and says “My niece is no longer here because I drove drunk with her in the car and killed her” it’s very painful. That panel is something I will never forgot, and it’d be amazing if every driver was required to take that panel. It would be a huge eye opener for those that think that things like that can’t happen to them. Here in Colorado car crashes is in the top three casual factors for fatalities. That is alarming and should be concerning to those here in Colorado.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road? We as adults need to take driving more seriously if we all take care of each other on the road then things can be easier and roads can be safer, educating ourselves and even having classes to refresh our memory on driving rules and laws, that would make the biggest difference especially here in a Colorado were driving accidents are at an all-time high. Teens should be given access to driver education without all those extra cost and fees. Classed should also be offered in schools. Teenagers start learning how to drive and need to learn from an early age how to do so safely. Parents Should take the time to speak to their teens about the importance of safe driving. Even getting too excited and going excessive speeds can cause a serious, even deadly accident.