In the Driver's Seat

Every year, thousands of deaths occur in the U.S. due to reckless and careless driving. One of the biggest causes of this tragic statistic is the lack of drivers ed. As it stands right now, the only real way that people can get a “refresher” on proper driving is by getting a ticket and attending a mandatory driving class. If this wasn’t the case, and people took refresher courses regularly, the amount of deaths related to driving would likely decrease majorly.

I am seventeen years old, so it is not uncommon for me to witness or be in the car with my peers while they are driving recklessly: speeding, illegal turns, and risky moves. While it is more difficult to convince my generation that driving recklessly is not worth it, drivers ed courses taught by licensed professionals would probably create change in the driving norms of teens everywhere.

When I was sixteen, just five months after getting my license, I was in a serious rollover accident. I was going well over the speed limit, and to no surprise, I had friends in my car. I was being irrational and the consequences were visible to me shortly after. If I have gathered one thing from my experience, it is that I am not invincible. I am lucky to be alive and lucky that my friends are, as well. After I paid a considerable amount and attended my drivers ed class as an alternative to paying my ticket, I realized how important it is to be an observant, considerate driver. It has now been over a year since my accident, and I haven’t gotten a ticket since. I don’t speed, I know my limits, and I always use my turn signal. It is the small things that make a big difference when it comes to driving.

A huge reason that I am more cautious on the road is not because of my accident, but because of what I learned from my drivers ed course. It made me realize the consequences of being an irresponsible driver. Because of my experience, I believe that drivers ed courses should be necessary once every year or a couple of years in order to receive a license renewal. In both of my parents’ professions, they are required to spend a certain number of hours reviewing material online in order to renew their certifications every year. This way, they are always sure of what they are supposed to be doing at all times, and in turn they make rational, smart decisions. I think that although it would be hard to enforce this rule nationwide, it would have a phenomenal effect on people’s decision-making and the amount of deaths on the road.

In conclusion, everyone needs to realize what I realized in driver education: We are not invincible. If people really understood this, they would make smarter decisions on the roads, and thousands of lives would be spared.