Importance of Drivers Education on Evolving Roadways

We grow up watching our parents driving, our favorite TV show character driving, and even playing games where we drive. Driving a car is one of the most common coming of age events in American culture it is almost a surprise that we don’t celebrate our Drivers License day. But as mentioned in growing up watching our parents drive, our favorite characters drive or in driving in video games there is plenty of time to pick up bad habits when it is finally our turn behind the wheel.
Driver’s education is an important milestone in adolescent’s lives not only because of the momentous occasion it marks, but also due to the knowledge and practice it gives our young drivers and the help it delivers in removing bad habits picked up along the way. While it has been some time since my stint in Drivers Education I remember the excitement I felt to go to 8th period and thumb my way through our little yellow text. This was not only because I had memorized it by heart and was ready for the test, and not because of the simulator training, but because it mean that soon independence would be coming my way.
At the time of my driver’s Ed. class, cell phones were just becoming a popular item for teens to have. They warned us of the dangers of using phones and driving and of course we shrugged it off, I know a couple of kids in my class whose families wished they hadn’t. I think that is what is most important about teaching a driver’s Ed. course, the relevance to the students you are teaching. I know that we shouldn’t fiddle with the radio or cell phone while driving, but alternatives are available to doing this, do our educators know?
I think I have shown in this essay my deepest respects to driver’s education and the experience I had, I am only forwarding this through a suggestion in this essay. I believe Drivers Education should be an evolving education system with education not only on how to drive and read road signs but also how to do so in a smart tech world. My current care stereo has one knob the rest is touch screen, should I take my eyes off the road to change stations? The answer is of course no, but do our kids know that? Do they know they can change stations using buttons on the steering wheel or even voice command on their phone? Are we ensuring that we are evolving our education to ensure their safety?
I am a firm believer of living in the times, and now is the time of smart technology. In order for drivers ed to continue to to be as effective today as back 15 years ago I believe smart technology should be a part of the curriculum. I think students armed with this knowledge rather than assuming they know it will better prepare them for the roads ahead as well as keep in practice the good habits of driving safely.