2021 Drivers Ed Essay

Many people are affected by car accidents. Unfortunately my cousin recently died in one. I’ve had many experiences with new drivers that have left me feeling unsafe. One night my friend drove me and two others home from a dinner party. As we pulled up to the intersection the light was red, but my friend continued to drive anyway. Everybody was confused, and he replied that no one else was there. In addition, new drivers can be hesitant drivers, especially in the city. I’ve had an experience with a hesitant driver. My friend Chloe, who lives in the suburbs, picked me up, and the car was constantly shaking. She frequently asked me questions about what lanes to be in and if she was allowed to go because she wasn’t used to the way people drive in the city. In Atlanta accidents can happen at any second, and this delayed me learning to drive, and getting on the road.

The purpose of driver education is to give you the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and as a pedestrian. Driver Education plays a huge role in reducing the number of car accident deaths. According to The University of Nebraska–Lincoln “Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed.”

There are many ways we all can reduce the number of driving related deaths. Starting with the number one rule: don’t be on the phone. Anything that makes you take your eyes off the road is putting your life and others’ lives in danger. According to statistics, using a cell phone while driving, whether hands-free or not, makes it four times more likely you will have a collision. Next, make sure you are aware of the cars around you. To ensure drivers are aware of their surroundings, they should be free from distractions, follow the speed limit, and keep their eyes on the road at all times.

You should check your mirrors frequently, and If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it. Another way to avoid accidents is to follow all traffic laws. Remember my friend from earlier who ran the red light because no one was there? Imagine if someone was there he didn’t see: we could have been in an accident. Traffic laws are in place to keep people safe. Lastly, the police enforcing speed limits are important. Speed limits help limit your speed, and reduce the amount of time it takes for you to react to changes in the roadway or flow of traffic, and makes it easier for you to stop your vehicle if needed.

There are many steps we can all take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others be safer on the road. I believe everyone should take a drivers education class, and use the rules followed in that class. A study by the AAA Foundation found “that teens who go to a Drivers Ed program are safer on the roads. They are involved in fewer car crashes and receive fewer convictions than those who are taught by their parents.” Another safety rule we can follow to be safer is everyone should have their phones silenced to have minimum distractions. Also if you need your phone for GPS it should be mounted in your car instead of in your hands. A good car phone mount is essential for vehicles without a built-in navigation system. Phone mounts give a safe and simple way to make calls, get directions, and use your phone’s voice assistant. This tip is for passengers in the car: don’t distract the driver. Passengers also have responsibilities to be considerate of the safety of the driver, and others in the vehicle and others on the roadway. As a driver, set rules and limits in your car. For example, if you get distracted by loud noises, and your passengers are playing their music loudly, make sure the music is at a level where you can focus. Lastly, be a considerate driver. There are many ways to be a considerate driver like never drinking and driving, driving at the speed limit, making sure driving has your full attention, and wearing a seatbelt.

In conclusion, with all the deaths caused by car accidents drivers education is very important. The purpose of driver education is to give you the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and as a pedestrian. Driver’s education has proven to be effective and cause less deaths.