Attending and completing driver education course is an important foundation for future success on the road—and by success I mean not getting yourself injured or killed. I am only partially kidding. Of course, accidents occur on the road everyday and it is not always the fault of the driver. But by paying careful attention during drivers ed class, one can be more prepared for unexpected challenges while driving. Drivers ed not only teaches us the fundamentals such as traffic laws and rules of the road, but it also teaches us awareness of driving conditions, being alert to abnormal driving patterns, and other situations that are not a normal part of day-to-day driving. Combining the drivers ed curriculum with actual behind-the-wheel practice makes us overall better drivers and the road a safer place.
The benefits of drivers ed begins even before one steps foot in the DMV building to get a learner’s permit. It is where we as teenagers eager to drive receive the basics needed to pass the DMV test to obtain a learner’s permit. In order to pass the test, we must know all about the wide variety of signs, markings, etc. that litter the road landscape, what they indicate, and what our responsibilities are regarding obeying these signs and other rules of the road. We learn about all of this firstly in drivers ed class and we do homework assignments to reinforce this knowledge. Thus, when we do turn 15 ½ years old and begin our pursuit of a driver’s license, this knowledge helps us pass the written exam so that we can start driving regularly and becoming more comfortable on the road.
I remember the first time I began driving after receiving my learner’s permit. I was very nervous, to be honest. We started slowly, first driving around in a circle in the parking lot of my old school in summer time when there were no other cars or people around. Then widening that circle by driving around the neighborhood and then further out into other parts of the county. The knowledge I acquired from completing the drivers ed course helped me immensely. Not only with the basics such as knowing what the signs meant and how to obey traffic signs and signals, but it also gave me a healthy “scare” to drive safely and to be aware of other cars that may be driving erratically due to driving drunk or driving while distracted.
Here are some of the things I took away from drivers ed class that helped me be a better driver when I began practicing driving with my parents: firstly, I always made sure to be fully alert and not to be distracted by something like a cell phone or the car radio. Even when my parents would try to have a conversation with me, I would tell them “I need to concentrate on driving, please don’t have a conversation with me.” Now that I am more experienced, having a casual conversation is fine as long as I also remain focused on the road, but at the beginning, I’m glad that my parents heeded my request so that I could remain focused on the goal, which was to become more comfortable on the road. Secondly, drivers ed class taught me the importance of respecting other drivers. I always remembered to keep a safe distance from the car in front of me, to use my signal lights when changing lanes, and to know who has the right of way in situations where multiple cars are turning onto the same road. Additionally, drivers ed taught me that it is important not to drive while in a state where I am not completely ready and focused. I don’t drink alcohol or do any illegal drugs, but aside from this, I know that if I am too tired or too ill, I should not get behind the wheel. A final thing I want to mention is that drivers ed made me aware of what to do in an emergency situation, such as if my car is veering off the road. Even though I have been lucky enough to not have been in any such situation so far, the fact that I’m aware of such situations and am prepared for it I believe is a big benefit of drivers ed. These are just some of the things I took away from drivers ed class and is certainly not all encompassing.
In conclusion, it is vital to take a driver education course before one starts driving on the road. The information given to us is immensely valuable not only to for passing the test to get a learner’s permit and a driver's license, but also we will carry that knowledge with us far into the future as we drive and it makes the road a safer place when all drivers are well-acquainted with the information contained within the drivers ed curriculum.