Reforming drivers education

Driver education is important. Driver education is necessary. Driver education can save lives. 34,000 die each year as a result of driving; this is not ok. This number is not just young drivers, it is also experienced drivers. America must find a way to solve this issue. The solution to this devastating problem is driver education.

The importance of driver education is to, obviously, reduce the number of deaths while driving. Driver education accomplishes this by educating new drivers in all the important knowledge every driver must know. Rules in driving may be boring to young drivers but driver education makes known the importance of these rules. A way this is accomplished is by implementing a permit test, a test on driving rules, for young drivers that help to create knowledgeable drivers who will hopefully apply the rules and drive safely. In addition, there are many other crucial steps young drivers must take to get their licenses. These steps include the eye test, the eight-hour driving class, driving with a parent, driving with an instructor, and finally passing the driving test. With all these steps every driver must take the question becomes how can we reduce the death rate?

The answer to reducing the death rate is simply educating drivers. There are other ways to try and educate young drivers than what is currently implemented. Many young drivers in today’s world have short attention spans. We can keep trying to educate them in a way where they do not pay attention or we can try new ways to grasp their attention. For example, at my school we had this go-kart come visit to teach the students about safe driving. It had different settings on it to show what it would feel like to drive drunk or on your phone. It was very difficult to drive in these settings so it taught the students in an interactive way why you should not drive unsafely. So many kids are tired of hearing the same thing. We always say do not drink and drive and do not get on your phone when driving. The truth is just telling young drivers what not to do is not how they will learn. Many young drivers need to see it. Another way to educate these young drivers is by inviting real police officers to speak about safe driving before an event like prom when many teens drink and party after.

I have never been in an accident before but I have seen one happen once. While I was still learning to drive I was in the car with my instructor and we were parked at a red light when a car ran right into another car. I will never forget how it happened, the light was turning yellow and the car ran into the other car that was turning right. The car at the light assumed the car turning was going to wait and the car turning assumed the car at the light was going to slow down because the light was yellow. The car at the light was at fault because the light was yellow which means you have to slow down. This affected me because it was one of the first times I had ever driven. My driving instructor used it as a lesson about the importance of stopping lights and being aware of your surroundings. I honestly think seeing that happen right in front of me made me a better driver cause it was a real-life example of what could happen if you do not follow the rules of the road.

I believe a way I can become a better driver is just through experience, the more I drive the more I learn about what to do and what not to do. I understand the importance of safe driving because I know the significance of what could happen if you do not follow the rules. If we show young drivers what could happen if they do not follow the rules they would be more eager to follow the rules. Though there are still some circumstances that affect young drivers and that is football games and dances. I think if schools or the community created a program that was like a carpool system after these events it would be very beneficial. Many students drink after these events and creating a system that kids can call if they feel they can not adequately drive home would reduce drunk driving accidents.

With all these examples and solutions I feel the death rate could be reduced. It is extremely important to find new ways to educate drivers when the old ways are clearly not working. Overall I believe driver’s education can and will save lives.