Driver’s Education: Why it is a Necessary Action to Prevent Fatal Vehicle Crashes and Create a Safer Driving Generation

Getting a driver’s license is a milestone moment that every teen longs for. The idea of being able to clutch the beginnings of independence and freedom makes even the calmest of the young generation itch. The impulse to drive is one so strong that most start practicing their driving skills much before they are physically and mentally mature enough to do so.

By the time they receive their driving permits, most already have a high number of hours under their belts. If they are anything like me, they spent many days driving the streets of the neighborhoods and maybe a few times to the local gas station as a “challenge.” Knowing the basics is great, but when they are thrust onto the freeway or busy downtown streets, will the skills transfer?

How many times have we turned on the local news to read a headline about a fatal crash including a new driver, or a collision due to an overreaction or inclement weather? Too many.

The truth is, just learning to drive is not enough. Drivers need to be educated in the rules and regulations of the road, but also how to adapt and predict real-time situations that may occur while driving. Driver’s Education courses are the often-overlooked key to creating safer streets and decreasing vehicle crashes in general.

A study conducted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers Duane Shell and Ian Newman followed more than 150,000 teen drivers over eight years. They also compiled the driving records of approximately 152,000 Nebraska Youth who had obtained their provisional operators permit between the years 2003 and 2010.

Through their analysis, they found that those who had completed Driver’s Education courses had significantly fewer vehicular crashes and traffic violations. Of the 152,000 Teens that obtained their Operational Permits, 53% took state-approved Driver’s Ed. courses to qualify, while the remainder qualified by logging 50 hours of driving while under the supervision of a parent. Again, their results revealed that the group who participated in Driver’s Education courses had fewer accidents and tickets.

After the study, they concluded that “Teen crashes and fatality rates are highest at ages 16-18, these reductions are especially meaningful. Driver Education appears to make a difference in teen traffic outcomes at a time when risk is highest.”

Now, we see that Driver’s Education is proven to reduce accidents, but what does it entail?

According to Driver Ed in a Box, an online Driver’s Ed. course, the purpose of Driver’s Education is to, “Teach a new driver the need tools to understand the rules of the road.” Knowing how to physically drive is critical, but a driver must also understand the rules of the road and mental factors such as good judgment, common sense, and how to proactively avoid accidents.

Professional Driving instructors ensure that all information related to driving is covered and understood. When young drivers have a clear and concise understanding of the rules and safety measures that come with driving, the instructors allow students to practice. Knowing this information ahead of time, instead of learning on the go, helps increase the confidence of young drivers as they explore the world on wheels.

A confident driver is a safe driver. Having confidence behind the wheel allows drivers to adapt and respond quicker and more efficiently in any difficult driving situations that may arise. Driver’s Education is extremely beneficial not only because drivers learn to adjust in the present time, but also avoid accidents by recognizing dangerous signs.

Driver’s Education Courses do not only provide a safety benefit, but financial ones as well. Depending on your Insurance Plan, you may be able to decrease your overall premium by enrolling your teen. Some Insurance companies even provide a list of recommended companies.

Completing a Driver’s Education course will massively increase your responsibility and confidence behind your wheel. Unfortunately, though, there is one factor we cannot control: Other drivers.

Distracted Driving is among the top causes of fatal car accidents. Brandon Myers of the education blog DefensiveDrivig.Org reported that in 2014 alone, 3,179 Americans were killed and 431,000 were injured in vehicles involving distracted drivers. He also reveals that at any given moment of the day, approximately 660,000 people (about half the population of Hawaii) are using electronic devices behind the wheel. We assume this can be contributed to the uproar of technology in the new generation, as drivers in their 20s make up a staggering 27% of distracted drivers in reported fatal crashes.

Texting, calling, scrolling, and reaching for our phones are just some of the ways that these small devices pull our attention away from the more important task at hand. The good news is this issue is extremely easy to prevent.

When you slide into the driver’s seat, commit to driving and driving alone. Trying to multitask will only pull your eyes away from the road and hands off the wheel. To not be tempted by a cell phone, it should be secured in a hard-to-reach place such as a glove box or backseat. If you feel like you need your phone on you, at least turn the sound off so that incoming notifications do not distract you from the wheel. If a phone task needs to be completed and you have a passenger, ask them for help! This allows you to keep the focus on your driving while your passenger focuses on the device.

A personal tool that I use is the “Driving Mode” option on my iPhone. When my phone connects to my car’s Bluetooth, it automatically silences all incoming notifications until the duration of the drive is over. It also prevents me from attempting to open my phone while driving, as it has a two-step factor that you must complete to unlock the device. If someone tries to contact me during my drive, it immediately sends a message back informing them that I am currently behind the wheel and that I will answer when I arrive at my destination, letting others know why I am not answering, but also how I much importance I put on being completely undistracted behind the wheel

Another technique is learning how to drive defensively. According to SafeMotorist—an online driving resource and training—Defensive Driving is defined as “Driving in a manner that utilizes safe driving strategies to enable motorists to address identified hazards in a predictable manner.”

This training goes well beyond basic manual instruction and information on laws and road procedures. The goal of defensive driving is to reduce the risk of traffic accidents by properly educating drivers to use caution and have good judgment while on the road. Defensive drivers know what to look for and how to handle it, using techniques such as: scanning the roadway and adapting to their surroundings, employing the two-second rule for following distances, being aware of reaction distance, sharing the road, passing correctly and safely, and knowing how to correctly make speed adjustments.

Being alert and on the lookout helps center your focus around the task of driving, but also heightens your abilities and instincts. The combination of being a defensive driver, and an undistracted driver, is the key to reducing potentially fatal and serious car crashes.

I attend a large High School with a student population of approximately 2,000 students. With more than half having their licenses, the parking lot becomes a breeding ground for unsafe practices while driving. I have seen my fair share of fender benders, punched-out taillights, and multiple totaled cars. The most astonishing thing is that most of these accidents happen while the drivers are under 25 MPH.

Constantly, you see students trying to maneuver the extremely crowded parking lots, especially when the school bell finally rings in the afternoon, while being on their phones, reaching for something in their bags, or being extremely distracted by the other people in their car. I have been nearly backed into, or side-swiped, on multiple occasions by teens, and even parents, not being alert while driving.

However, for us to try and make an impact, we must practice what we preach. I have my own rule that everyone in my car must have a seatbelt on before I even put the car into drive. When I am flying solo, though, I sometimes fall to the urge of checking that one text message or feeling the need to search for the perfect song while driving. If I want to be influential to my friends and family around me, I need to practice safe driving measures even when no one is watching.

Overall, increasing education in all areas of driving will help decrease the number of fatal vehicular crashes. Educating young drivers and reminding seasoned drivers of the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of being on the defensive behind the wheel will help make our roads safer. A driver’s education course should be required before you can obtain a license, and we should continue to practice safe driving whether you are alone or in the presence of passengers. To decrease the astonishing number of crashes, a drastic impact needs to be made.