Driver’s Education is More than Just an Easy Elective Grade

What if you could do one simple thing to help ensure a safer driving experience for life? What if you could have fun while learning the rules of the road? Did you know you could become a better driver just by taking a driver’s education class? It’s a simple way to become a safe driver and most high schools offer the course for all driving-aged students. As an elective credit – driver’s ed courses offer a great deal of practical knowledge you can use to become a good driver and keep yourself safe, at little to no cost to your family.

As a teenager, I have thankfully never been in an accident myself. Even so – the lessons we learned in driver’s ed class and the videos of what can happen when you are not a careful driver will live with me for the rest of my life. We learned the dangers of driving under the influence, using the phone while driving, and distracted driving. These three mistakes account for most of the accidents on the road today.

In class we learned that according to NHTSA.gov, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes each day — that’s one person every 52 minutes. This could easily be avoided if drivers would avoid alcohol or select a designated driver before going out on the town. Additionally, the website states that distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019. Distracted driving could mean talking or texting on the phone, doing hair or makeup, or even just eating while driving. These things may seem easy to do when we are not driving, but even one second of looking away from the road could have deadly consequences.

Many teens and adults believe that once you pass your driving test and have that driver’s license in your wallet, there is no further driver’s education needed. This may be true from a regulatory and legal standpoint, but there is great benefit in regularly reviewing the rules of the road. How many 40-year olds do you know that can tell you the safe following distance based on speed? How many 30-year olds can tell you how far back you should use your turn signal or at what blood alcohol concentration you are considered impaired? These are important facts to remember if you want to be a safe driver, or help your friends and family remain safe. That old driver’s ed book may come in handy for you in the future!

Another thing to be aware of is the way your family and friends interpret “safe” driving. You may be a very conscientious driver and always follow the rules, but when you get in the car with another driver – you are at the mercy of their choices – whether good or bad. This is where the example you set and the expectations you communicate can serve as a safety net for those you love. It is important to let your family and friends know that you will not tolerate drunk, buzzed or distracted driving while you are in the car and to make yourself available if they should need a ride in the future due to drinking or any other problematic habits. If your family and friends see that you take these things seriously, they may be willing to make some changes in their own driving habits. This could save your life and other’s.

Towards the end of the semester in our driver’s ed class, we signed a pledge to be a safe driver, and to respect the rules of the road. Each of us plays a part in making the roads safer by adhering to that pledge and taking the privilege of driving seriously. Although many of us will find ourselves commuting great distances for work in the future, many stay in our small town and work nearby. Regardless, the responsibility is the same. And as we become more seasoned drivers, we will still need to remember what we learned in class and apply it every time we get behind the wheel.

My hope is that in years to come, we will see all of our old friends from driver’s ed at our class reunions and get-togethers as adults. There are so many things that can cause someone to lose their life – but thanks to driver’s ed – poor driving does not need to be one of them. If this simple class saves one life, it will be worth it to me.