On the very day that my grandpa got his driver’s license, the first thing he did when driving home was hit a mule. When my mom got into an accident when she was in college, my grandpa told her that at least she did not hit a mule.
I received my driver’s license in March 2024. Since then, I see so many people looking at their phones while they are driving. It is so dangerous and irresponsible to take your eyes off the road just because you might be addicted to your phone. For example, last month, I had a young woman driving behind me and she was looking at her phone. When I started slowing down for a red light, it was obvious that she did not notice that I was slowing down. Just seconds away from causing an accident, she slammed on her brakes and, thankfully, she stopped just in time, only a few inches away from hitting my car. That had to be one of the most frightening things that I have personally experienced while driving. Drivers can and should put their phones on ‘Do Not Disturb’ while driving. This is something that can be done very easily and helps minimize distractions on the road.
I was so excited to get my driver’s license, but at the same time, I felt very nervous because of the possibility that I could end up in a car accident. Sometimes, I hear my parents talk about an accident that happened and ended people’s lives. That made me realize that I need to stay safe and keep my eyes on the road or I could end up on the news.
I recently saw on the news that the former Vikings rookie football player Khyree Jackson was killed by a woman who was suspected to be drunk. The police say that she was trying to merge into Khyree Jackson’s lane, which ended up killing him and his friend. All of the hard work he put into making the NFL ended up being taken away from him by someone who was under the influence of alcohol. Khyree Jackson was only 24 years old and had so much potential that society will never be able to witness. One important lesson learned in driver’s education is that there is no excuse to drive drunk. Each year, 11,000 people die due to drunk drivers and that can be reduced by bringing a friend along and having someone be the designated driver for the night. Also, we now have the option to pay for an uber to drive us safely home or a family member can drop you off at home.
Driver education is extremely important in reducing the amount of accidents and reckless driving. By helping drivers learn the skills and knowledge of navigating roadways, we can enhance our safety while driving and help decrease the amount of car related fatalities. To be able to drive is a privilege that comes with great responsibility and requires people to drive carefully and make smart decisions on the road. Even though I did not enjoy sitting through driver education classes each week, I understand the benefits of the classes. As an example, in my town, the Illinois Prairie Path crosses many of the roads. When I was little, I used to ride my bike along that path and across those roads. Driver education teaches the importance of being aware and yielding to pedestrians, which will hopefully mean less accidents near busy places such as the Prairie Path.
Vehicle maintenance is also an important key to driving safely. To keep our cars from breaking down, we need to regularly check the tire pressure, get oil changes, check the brake lights, etc. Driver education classes should teach basic car maintenance such as changing a flat tire.
Driver education does not currently provide optional classes for towing boats and other automobiles. I have a fishing boat that I often tow to a lake in the summer. The lake is just over an hour away and requires driving on a tollway. I never knew how to tow a trailer and I was very nervous for my first drive with the boat. The first time I towed my boat, I realized that it felt very different than when driving without it. It took me a year to figure out what I needed to do in order to safely tow the boat. If there was a class that was offered that focused on towing, it would have better prepared me for driving a boat.
Also, managing your mental state is a critical aspect to driving. Any stress, fatigue or emotional distress can affect someone's ability to drive. To keep us safe from accidents, we need to be well rested and relaxed under the wheel. Being well rested will help increase reaction time and awareness of what is around us.
My mother always tells me that driving is a privilege. In a split second, that privilege can turn into disaster. Driver education is so important because not everyone has parents at home or parents that are able to teach these important lessons. All new drivers, not just teenagers, will benefit from driver education. Lives depend on it.