The Importance of Drivers Education to Teens

Driving is a privilege that provides a level of freedom and independence much desired by teens. While this privilege is often fun and exhilarating, it comes with tremendous responsibility. Too many fatalities are caused due to teenagers who choose to skip a step and ignore the rules of driving. Without proper education, driving can quickly go from empowering to dangerous.

Driver’s education is an essential step to reducing driving fatalities. Classroom or online study allows young drivers to learn the rules of the road, such as: how to read signs and markings, the meaning of traffic signals, state laws, and the regulations regarding right of way. Students are also able to learn strategies to avoid accidents, as well as how to respond to specific driving conditions and scenarios appropriately. Student driving before a teenager receives their license provides practical experience in applying the information learned in the classroom. Additionally, the hands-on experience gives the student a better understanding of how to use the controls of a car and the results of different levels of input to those controls in real-life scenarios.

While many teens believe they know how to drive without experience or can learn to drive as they begin, they are often proven to be mistaken. Young drivers must take driver’s education seriously. It may seem redundant at the time, but learning simple things like what to do at a flashing red light or three-way stop are critical skills that can save lives. I know several people who have had close calls or accidents because they ignored rules of the road taught in driver’s education. They have received many tickets because they could not be bothered with learning the ways of the road. This type of driving is dangerous for both them and those around them.

Another key to preventing traffic fatalities is to eliminate distracted driving. Several of my classmates have been involved in accidents due to distracted driving. They were severely injured because they took their eyes off the road for mere seconds. When driving, it is essential to pay attention and not drive distracted. Though it may not seem like you are not paying attention, texting, talking, changing the radio, and conversing with passengers can result in devastating consequences.

In addition to distracted driving, drowsy driving is a contributor to many fatal crashes. According to the NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Research Note published in December 2020, 697 or 1.9 percent of all fatality crashes involved a drowsy driver. This particular topic hits close to home as my uncle died at the age of 20 in a single-vehicle accident when he fell asleep at the wheel. Drowsy driving is not discussed with my peers as often as distracted driving or driving under the influence of alcohol; however, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Educating Youth about Sleep and Drowsy Driving report, 55 percent of all drowsiness related crashes were drivers between 16 and 25. More attention and education of both teens and parents would help reduce the number of accidents in the future.

There are several things we can do to be safer on the road. The first is maintaining focus. When driving, take advantage of all of the technology available to you. Though it is encouraged not to use communication devices when driving at all, it is safer to use any hands-free option available. The best way to not get distracted by your messages would be to put your phone on do not disturb. If you don’t know where you are going, use your navigation features to help you minimalize your focus on directions and more on the road. Secondly, always pay attention to your surroundings, especially on familiar routes. I drive the same route to school daily; it could potentially be easy to let my mind think about other things besides driving. I must make a conscious effort to be aware of my surroundings even though it is familiar to me. Finally, before you drive anywhere, especially over a long distance, have a plan. Know where you are going before the drive, as in setting your navigation sequence up. Make sure someone else knows your route in case something goes wrong, like a flat tire. Maintain proper care of your car to elongate its life.

Driver’s education is a necessity to be safe when driving. By following the rules and guidelines given to you by your education, you make the drivers around you safer as well as yourself. Knowing the essential material could potentially save your life and others around you.