The Necessity of Driver Education to Create Safe Roads

Driver education is greatly important for new drivers so they can safely learn how to drive, avoid accidents, and keep the roads safe in the future. Personally, I relied heavily on driver education to help me learn to drive safely with my Tourette Syndrome. The education I received in these classes and lessons have already helped me save my own life as well as those around me, making me eternally grateful to the program that helped teach me how to manage my symptoms behind a wheel as well as the rules of the road. If a student can be properly taught how to handle all situations, normal and unfavorable such as symptoms of disabilities or bad weather,

Reducing distractions in the car can be vital in keeping accidents to a minimum. Phones are off or in the glove box, the radio is left not the be fiddled with, and chatty friends are told to be respectful and quiet during the drive. Anything that can be eliminated that could take the driver’s eyes off the road should be handled. Each time a driver looks away from the road or the mirror, they lose sight of what is happening around them. They keep moving while they read their text or look at the photo their friend is showing them, and by the time they glance back where they need to be focused, it could very easily be too late and they could be involved in a deadly accident. Driver’s Education  showed many stories, videos, facts, and alternatives in relation to distracted driving. It was a great deterrent in driving with a phone in hand or going on the highway while fiddling with the radio, each example showing the importance of driving without distractions and understanding the necessity of road safety.

Luckily for me, I have never been in a car accident. However, I distinctly remember my older sister driving a little too fast in a snowstorm to get to her friend’s house in her truck and losing control, crashing into a large tree. She was medically okay, her car only dented a little bit. During Driver Education we were taught how fast to drive in unfavorable winter conditions, to increase following distance, how to look out for black ice on the roads, how to adjust headlights so we can see in the snow, and how to get our cars unstuck during a snow. Seeing her accident helped me learn the importance of being careful in different weather conditions, and I was very grateful that Driver’s Ed covered these scenarios to better prepare us on how not to be in an unsafe position or be caught off guard. Driving irresponsibly was shown over and over again to be dangerous and even deadly. Although I did not personally know too many people who were in accidents or drove irresponsibly while I was present, seeing the stories of others who lost loved ones or even killed others while driving recklessly and dangerously was more than effective enough for me. The class clearly understood the severity of driving responsibly and witnessed the life-long lasting effects of choosing to be irresponsible and reckless anyways. These stories and suggestions stuck in my mind when and whenever I get behind the wheel, I always think to be cautious for the sake of others and myself.

As briefly mentioned above, I suffer from Tourette Syndrome which is a neurological disorder that causes me to experience uncontrollable motor tics. These can be clapping my hands, shutting my eyes, stomping my feet, or even flipping those next to me off. As one could likely imagine, these movements are not ideal for driving and can easily endanger me and those I am near. I attended Driver’s Ed in order to ensure I could be a safe driver and keep myself and others safe on the road. The instructor went through great lengths to figure out how to explain safety points to me and work around my Tourette’s. I figured out how to recognize dangerous tics coming on and maneuver myself to a safe location while in a controlled environment, so I was able to learn how to work around my disorder and recognize my own limits behind a wheel. I very quickly understood that my life and those of other drivers are far more important than me rushing to the nearest Walmart. My instruction during Driver’s Ed helped me become a safer driver and helped me make good decisions on the road that I do not think I would be able to make without the knowledge and experience provided in the class.