My Thoughts and Experiences Surrounding Drivers Education

Driver education is extremely important for reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. As potential drivers become more educated, they are more aware of the innate dangers of driving such as distraction, inattentiveness, and in my case, becoming tired or exhausted at the wheel. To prevent these deaths and reduce the overall count of injuries and deaths related to driving, I believe a more practical education should be pursued in schools around the country. There is only so much that can be taught in a classroom, and even if there is a driving test, it is much more common for the parents to take responsibility and teach their children. This is not a terrible phenomenon, in fact, it is encouraged by educators. However, I feel that this could lead to bad driving habits inherited from the parents themselves. Not to mention the fact that a lot of families simply do not have the time to accomplish this. A truly comprehensive program in the educational space for teaching children around 16 to drive would include a lecture and “lab” portion, where the material can be practiced while being inside the vehicle. Using this model, new drivers can familiarize themselves with a vehicle while learning the required material, allowing the student to associate this new information with the physical experience of driving. When I took the course in High School, being in a traditional classroom environment was not conducive to proper learning. Now that I have years of experience as a driver, I can say with a high degree of confidence that most of my knowledge comes from driving with my guardian in the passenger seat, giving me tips and tricks for navigating the roads safely. If this program were to be achievable, then the number of accidents suffered by students and new drivers would surely plummet.

I have the unfortunate experience of being in a car accident, caused by my inattentiveness to my body’s needs. This occurred in January of 2019. The night before the accident, I had decided to go to a movie with friends and stayed out much later than I should have. I came back home and when I woke up, I had a cold sore on the inside of my lips, making it extremely difficult to eat and drink. My brother and I needed to attend an event early in the morning, around 6:30 AM, so I drove us there without eating breakfast and very little fluids. From then to around 4:00 PM I could not eat a single meal due to the cold sore, and I couldn’t finish more than a bottle of water. I was also exhausted from the mental strain of the day’s activities and the lack of a proper amount of sleep. Driving back home from this event, I had the opportunity to get a caffeinated beverage, but I was so close to home that I thought it unnecessary. I ended up falling asleep at the wheel, crashing head-on into a crumple barrier. The good news is that this was an ideal situation for a crash, so my brother and I only sustained minor injuries. I was asleep, and my brother was not paying attention to the road, meaning both of our bodies were completely relaxed when we crashed. I was treated for whiplash for 4 months following the accident, and my brother had a sprained finger.

Not every story like mine has a happy ending. Following this traumatic event, I vowed to myself never to fall asleep at the wheel again, especially with a passenger on board. The reactions of those I love made me consider my choices carefully, and I take steps even today to have a backup driver with me, along with making sure that I am in the right physical and mental state to drive. I make sure to share my story with others, making them aware of the risks associated with driving tired or physically exhausted. Along with my story, I let others know of my methods to maintain attentiveness on the road and remind them that when you are in a vehicle, you are not only responsible for your own safety, but the safety and lives of your passengers. This message hit me extremely hard, with my carelessness bringing harm to my younger sibling. Above all, I communicate that out of every collision suffered by drivers, more than half of them happen close to home.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.