The Drive

My Mom and I were driving past a highschool. Almost all the time kids just jump into the street hoping you stop before you hit them. This was another case of that, my mom looked at me for a split second and BAM seconds away from possibly seriously injuring a kid who didn’t look both ways. I am not the first one to tell you that driving can be extremely dangerous. Becoming a better driver can be easy but you have to take the time to study what it’s like being a good driver

Just like any skill they don’t come naturally you have to be able to put work in towards growing the skill. When you are sixteen and about to get your permit, most of the time you go through driving schools. Driving schools such as A+ Driving have amazing resources for new drivers. For example lessons with an instructor. Instructors have experienced new drivers before, which means skipping the whole backseat driver also known as your parents step. The cars they use are specially made to assist the new driver, and are fitted with an extra brake in case of emergency. Driving schools also offer classes. Not only are those classes there to help you pass your permit or license test. But these classes can give you crucial information you should take to your day to day life. Taking notes while putting what you’ve learned into practice is a great way to improve your overall driving skills. Reddit users have answered the question Is driving school really worth it? Most people responded by saying how much driving school has improved their driving. Many users argued that even if you are spending a large amount of money you are allowing yourself to “drive in a safe space.” All of this practice and having a place that is centered around driving can significantly improve your driving skills.

The Driving Book by Karen Gravelle. Has a bunch of amazing information for upcoming drivers. This book is an opportunity to have everything you need to know written down and kept for you. The Driving Book has chapters on: what to keep in your car, what to do in an emergency situation, as well as what to do in unfavorable weather conditions. Let’s be honest you can take notes in your driving class but how many of you keep them. In the book she gives you important information like how to use jumper cables, using a portable charger, or changing a tire. Even situations they don’t touch on in driving school. For example: Dealing with someone else road rage or learning how to control your own. Not only does this book prepare you for what you should do when you finally have your license. It also helps you when you are just starting to learn how to drive. Like dealing with nervous parents. Using other people’s stories to give the best advice on how to understand each other. Even if your parents might seem overbearing or protective, “your parents are likely to recognize that anyone- especially new drivers can make mistakes” (153 Gravelle) When I first opened the book I found many of the topics were things I recognized from driving school. One of them being “Creating a space cushion” (93 Gravelle) or what my school called your six zones. Something I completely forgot about until I read the book. If you don’t take the time to read this book word for word it works perfectly to look back on when you are in a situation where you are not sure what to do. Keeping this in your car can help keep you prepared as a driver.

If you take the time to study and learn how to become a better driver, improving your driving becomes easy. You can do this by taking the chance to go to driving school or keeping a book to house important information. Driving can be a very daunting task and has always been something I have struggled to overcome. However taking things one step at a time or making things easier along the way can prove to be worth your while.

If improving your driving skills is something you want to do. Or maybe you are a parent trying to find the best way to teach a teen. Take the time to think about driving with an instructor. To replicate that safety bubble while driving. Or you might want to be able to look after them when you aren’t in the car with them. In that case pick up a book they need when you don’t have all the answers. There are many different methods to improve driving. Driving is a skill that will always need to be improved. The next time you get behind the wheel think about what you’ve done or what your next step might be to keep you and the people around you safe.

Work Cited Page

Gravelle, Karen. The Driving Book: Everything New Drivers Need to Know but Don’t Know to Ask. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2009.

“—.” Reddit, www.reddit.com/r/driving/comments/7vrzj9/is_driving_school_worth_it.