Driver Education and Safety

Driver Education and Safety

To be completely honest, I am probably going to win the “most likely to crash their car” award when senior superlative voting occurs; not the most prestigious award to win let me tell you. The amount of times I have dented my car, gotten rear ended, rear ended someone else, gotten hit in a parking lot, and had flat tires add up to more than I can count.

My 2013 Ford Focus was the most useful present I had ever gotten up to this point (emphasis on the “was”). I had so much freedom and I could FINALLY play my music playlists on a drive. A few weeks ago I was driving home from the store and the main road I had to go on was closed. I followed all of the other cars and turned left onto a road I’d never driven on. At this point it was rush hour, there was traffic, and I didn’t really know how to get home from where I was. So what did I do? Grab my phone and go to navigation of course; my phone will know where to go right? Well clearly the little man in my phone wasn’t functioning properly and the only route that showed up brought me right back to the closed road. Next thing I know I was sitting next to a tow truck driver as he towed my car to his shop. I had driven into the person in front me of because I was more focused on my malfunctioning GPS then of my surroundings.

This happens to be my most recent accident, in fact, my car is still at the shop! I know I’m not the only young driver who has gotten into multiple accidents and a lot of them are way more dangerous and life threatening than mine. I remember a few years back a senior was driving me to track practice and she managed to completely change into her running clothes while she was driving! I couldn’t even count the amount times she swerved and I was terrified. Drivers ed is SO important in keeping everyday people safe, wether it’s the new, distracted driver or the unsuspecting person whose car could get hit.

I did have a few driving lessons before I got my license but I would hardly consider them to be worth it. They weren’t through a real driving school and I regret that. So many of my friends had multiple lessons from driving schools before getting their licenses’ and they are much better and safer drivers than me. From what I have learned, I believe defensive driving is one of the most important lessons one can learn in order to be a lower-risk driver. After my multiple car calamities, I stand firm in my belief that new drivers should be required to take a certain amount of lessons before getting their licenses. These lessons should cover the basics as well as safety precautions and rules.

I have already begun to take steps towards becoming a safer driver. My parents and I jointly decided I should take REAL driving lessons as well as an online driver safety course. Additionally, I made a pact with myself and my parents that I would put my phone out sight during my drive, we even went out and bought an actual GPS. I think many parents should realize the risks of driving and take more time to instill safe habits into their teens.