In the winter of 2022, shortly after my 16th birthday, my mom and I waited outside the Drive Test Centre in minus 15 degrees Celsius weather to get my chance to take the G1 test; the first step in the graduated licensing process where I live in Ontario, Canada. The line was long as many people of all ages scrolled through their Online Driver’s Handbook on their phones with their teeth chattering from a combination of the cold and their nerves. I had prepared well for this first step and was confident when the door opened and it was my turn to test my knowledge. Fortunately, despite the literal brain freeze, I passed the test with flying colors. As I headed back to the car it hit me that this was just the first step in a very long process to becoming a competent and safe driver.
In the province where I live, there are effectively 4 steps to becoming a licensed driver. The first is the G1 knowledge test noted above. The second is the completion of an accredited driving instruction course. The third step is known as the G2 test. This is a road test that when passed, allows you to drive on your own with some restrictions. The fourth step is the G test – the final test where you become a full lifelong licensed driver. The second step, driver’s education, is not mandatory; but you would be crazy not to do it. Insurance rates are through the roof for young male drivers like myself. If an accredited driver’s education course is completed, new driver’s insurance rates are discounted dramatically. A driving instruction course costs anywhere from about $600-$1,200 and in the first year as a young driver, it can save you thousands of dollars in insurance payments. These savings are compounded as insurance rates drop with each year of driving experience; so, signing up for a driver’s ed course for any new driver is a no-brainer. This incentive that is offered is evidence-based. The risk of being in a car accident during the first year of driving is exponentially higher, particularly for teenaged-boys like myself; even in a graduated licensing system. It’s a universal truth – teenage boys cause the most accidents; many of which are fatal. This information is what insurance companies use to set their rates, and this is the main reason why driver’s education is critical to reducing the number of driving-related deaths.
So, armed with all this knowledge, I signed up for a driver’s education course a few months after earning my G1. The course I chose spanned several subsequent weekends. The first few sessions of this course reviewed the material I had already studied to pass my G1. This was excellent because having been driving for several months, the review helped to jog my memory. Anything I had forgotten was brought to the forefront. A review of all the different road signs, right-of-way scenarios, and the possible impacts of impaired driving was discussed and assessed. The most impactful part of this in-class part of the instruction was the videos and pictures of the aftermath of impaired driving. Driving schools are notorious for scaring students straight with images and statistics that would make anyone think twice about impaired driving. Living in a country where cannabis and alcohol are legal for anyone 19 years of age or older, this focus on the importance of sober driving was effectively brought home by the matter-of-fact approach that my driving instructors gave. Don’t do it or, at best, you will lose your license, at worst; you’ll die.
With the in-class portion complete, the best part of driver’s ed happens – the actual driving practice. This part here is the greatest benefit of driving instruction. These men and women who put their lives on the line many times a day are focused and dedicated to ensuring their students drive away from their G2 driving tests with a smile on their faces. Not only do they provide the opportunity to have real, lengthy, and varied driving experiences, but they are also laser-focused on helping you learn how to drive defensively, safely, and competently. Proudly, just a few months after completing my driver’s education course, I took and passed my G2 driving test.
Now, as I cruise the streets, I constantly hear my driving instructor’s voice in my head reminding me to ease off the gas, turn off the music, and focus on the road. His coaching vigilance will take me through to the next step; my full G driving license. More importantly, the lessons learned in driver’s education are ingrained in my brain and I am a safer and smarter driver as a result of it. I am fortunate enough to have never been in a car accident, but those who have, say the best way to stay safe is to always practice what you learned - stay vigilant on the road and drive defensively. The more people behind the wheel who follow these basic guidelines, the fewer driving fatalities will occur, and the safer we will all be on the road.