Name: Leyha
From: Hitchcock, Texas
Votes: 0
Why
Drivers ed is Important
As a
driver, there are always reasons to be cautious on the road. Even
though driving might seem like a routine that can be mastered and
memorized to the T, even professionals are still susceptible to
causing or being victims of crashes. When on the road, it is not
only the driver’s responsibility to stay safe, it is also every other
driver’s to keep both themselves and others on the road safe.
Educated drivers are aware of the dangers that could happen while on
the road, the real danger is the uneducated vehicle owners that are
causing disruption on the roadways and are conceivably rob innocent
people of their lives. It is not only important to be educated about
the dangers of driving, but it is also important to take certain
precautions before driving to decrease your chances of getting
involved in a roadway accident. Not only that, but steps can be taken
while driving can also be used to decrease the chances of a driver
hurting themselves or another driver.
Before
one can obtain their driver’s permit, the state of Texas requires
that the driver must have completed an approved Texas Driver’s
Education course, or take a written test proving that you are
knowledgeable of the rules of the road. Taking a drivers education
course is a step that a driver must take to be knowledgeable of the
rules and dangers of not following those rules. Another step that a
driver can take is to practice safety tactics. For example, following
the speed limit, using your blinkers, and wearing the seatbelt would
all be steps that a driver could take to ensure their safety. Drivers
who wear seatbelts are 45% less likely to b seriously injured in a
crash, and 30 times less likely to be ejected from the vehicle during
a car crash. Failure to use signals during lane changes has been the
cause of nearly two million accidents nationwide per year and
distracted driving accounts for 58% of teen crashes. With education
on theses statistics and knowledge of how to avoid it would encourage
drivers to perform these actions, and focus on getting to their
destination safely.
Drivers
who have been educated on these topics via drivers ed courses
are 75% less likely to get a traffic ticket and 24% less likely to be
involved in a fatal accident. Unfortunately, not everyone has the
resources to attend a drivers education course. To encourage safe
roadway practices, states should make drivers ed seminars free
and required before one is allowed to retrieve a license. Not only
that, but states should also require a license retriever to pass a
road test, no matter what age. With these laws in place, the rate of
accidents, traffic violations, and driving discrepancies will
drastically decrease.
As
someone who has been personally affected with multiple encounters of
irresponsible drivers causing distress, I have noticed that those who
either do not own a license or those who received their license at
age 18, avoiding having to take a road test or a drivers safety
course are those who caused the most damage to the vehicle I was
riding in at the time. Knowing that there are drivers who were not
required to learn about drivers’ safety and the dangers of not
following the correct protocol instills me with a sense of fear. I
have taken a driver’s safety course, road test, written test and have
completed 10 hours of monitored drive time with a drivers education
instructor. As an informed vehicle operator, I have not caused any
roadway accidents or been pulled over for a traffic violation other
than having a missing headlight.
Having
an adequate amount of drivers ed before being able to receive a
license at every age should be a state law. Drivers should be
required to take a safety course and pass both a road and a written
test. For those who cannot afford or do not have the resources to
complete a course, the state should provide free seminars and allot a
time where those who qualify for the free seminar will be able to
complete both their road and written test in an orderly fashion. With
these new regulations in place, there will be a sharp decrease in
roadway accidents and the idea of safe driving will be encouraged and
normalized.
