Driver Education Initiative – Safety First!

The day that I
turned fifteen, my mom and I went to the DMV to get my Learner’s
Permit. During the long wait in line, my anxiety about learning how
to drive continued to grow. After spending my entire life in the
passengers seat, driving seemed completely inaccessible to me. I was
clumsy, and driving an expensive, extremely dangerous vehicle was an
idea that made me uncomfortable.

The next day, on the way home from school, my mom told me it was
time: I was going to learn how to drive on my own. I was terrified.
Even though I was only driving on the side streets of my
neighborhood, I couldn’t even make myself go more than 10 miles per
hour. Sitting behind the wheel made me realize the power I had; as I
drove past the woman pushing her daughter in the stroller I
understood that one false move and I could easily ruin both of their
lives.

I didn’t take
traditional drivers ed at a school over the summer due to my
busy competitive golf schedule, and the months seemed to fly by while
I continued to avoid driving. It was only in December when I finally
decided it was time to enroll in my online Drivers ed
program. Each module resembled that of a school course, and provided
me with very detailed PowerPoint’s with valuable information
ranging from how to drive and park on a hill to the dangers of
driving under the influence. The module regarding driving under the
influence hit me particularly hard, showing very graphically
firsthand testimonies of the carnage and emotional damage as a result
of driving intoxicated. In this way drivers’ education truly can be
influential in reducing the amount of deaths as a result of driving.
By showing viewers how important it is to drive sober by showing them
what can happen as a result of their actions, drivers learn to be
more aware of how their actions can affect others. By learning not to
drive intoxicated, deaths by driving can be lessened.

To reduce the
number of deaths related to driving, drivers ed becomes
essential. Visually showing these deaths, through photos or videos,
leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. These deaths occur through
a variety of means, and whether it be through texting or driving
intoxicated, showing the repercussions of a person’s actions
physically on another person is effective. This comes after
explaining in great detail how to prevent these deaths from
happening. By explaining these concepts both verbally and visually,
drivers ed appeals to all types of learners, reiterating the
concepts enough times that they are able to remember them when behind
the wheel.

Though I personally
have never been in an accident, I have seen many of my friends get in
them and heard painful stories. A friend of one of my close friends
only two weeks ago ran into a man on a bicycle. He was forced to go
to the hospital, and thankfully he did not pass away. However he was
hospitalized and the girl who hit him is currently being sued. Though
the repercussions are not as extreme as those in the videos shown by
Drivers ed, this action is going to have major
repercussions for her. Looking back on the situation, the girl should
have learned the proper techniques to drive safely. Distracted
driving is absolutely unacceptable, and under all circumstances
should be avoided. By putting down the phone, staying aware of your
surroundings, and making sure to stay sober on the roads we can
become better drivers almost instantly.