Stop Accidents, Before They Stop You

The answer to the importance of drivers education may seem redundant to teens learning how to drive when they are of age. I get it, honestly. I’m a junior class president taking 4 AP classes, filling my resume up to prepare for college, surviving my teens and being a dog mom of 2. The last thing that I want to do is make time out of my busy schedule to read a 244 page NJ Driver Manual. But I know that actually studying the manual instead of asking my older siblings for the answers to the permit test will make me a more comfortable driver. Because I am the one responsible because I am behind the wheel if, God forbid, things go south. There is no easy way out when you find yourself in an accident and facing insurance bills. Therefore, learning the laws consisting of speed limits and general road rules will help a person avoid misdemeanors and potential accidents regardless of the extremity.

The purpose of a driver’s license is to prove that one has adequate knowledge of being a responsible driver, hence, if people lackadaisically go through permit test and drivers test process for the perks of legally driving, it defeats the purpose and value of being a safe driver. Driver education is the most effective way to decrease the number of deaths due to driving. Typically, teenagers begin to learn the ways of the road when high school hits. It’s easy to “go through the motions” instead of internalizing the rules of the drivers manual especially because most of the permit test is common sense.

According of University of Nebraska – Lincoln, young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed. (2015) Imagine if one driver is recklessly weaving through traffic, an educated driver will know to drive at the consistent speed of the traffic to avoid traffic jams and accidents. Simply, the more uneducated drivers present, the more difficult it will be to respond to irresponsibility on the road. This irresponsibility is what most likely causes traffic in the first place. Through drivers education young people that are aspiring to drive can cultivate good driving habits and know how to navigate through potential accidents.

My mother has always told my siblings and I not to get in the car with a group of friends. I believe my mother wasn’t intending to limit my social life in anyway., she warns me to ensure that the intended driver isn’t consuming alcohol in any way. Recently I discovered the deeper meaning of her concerns when my brother’s football friend, Nashawn Brooks was unfortunately killed in a “triple fatal crash” Seeing the devastation in my community from the loss of a young soul reminded me of the importance of driving safely. It’s not to say that Nashawn wasn’t a safe driver, however, to reduce devastation in the community it is all citizens’ responsibility to have some form of drivers education. You can’t force someone to attend Drivers ed course however, it should be encouraged for people to read the drivers manual. Hearing news stories and even seeing fatal car crashes are scary and should act as a wake up call to urge everyone about the influence of drugs and alcohol and speeding. Even when the police aren’t watching, it is essential to be a safe driver also because of irresponsible pedestrians that drivers are expected to yield to.

Most people don’t know the difference between yielding and stopping. The importance of having driver education that is accessible to schools allows students to feel prepared for actually driving. Drivers ed is considered a project in my school instead of an official class and there is an age requirement in order for students to be eligible to participate. Lack of accessible driver education classes discourages students from learning about driver judgment, what to do in common sense situations and how to navigate in different weather circumstances. Drivers ed courses encourage people to practice before officially being on the road. Another example is knowing the differences in traffic control signs.Road signs inform drivers about speed limits, upcoming hazards, or directions to drive.

Ultimately, I can be a safe driver by taking driving lessons this summer after reading the driving manual. Once I get my permit, I aspire to create a schedule for practice driving with one of my parents. Safe driving starts with accessible driving lessons which encourages drivers to learn how to drive stress free.