Driver’s education taught me how to drive in a way that protects me and everyone else on the road. When I first started driver’s education, I was completely clueless, so much so that I didn’t know which pedal was for the brake or gas and I didn’t even know how to properly turn on a car. I realize that I was a lot less educated on the subject than many other people, but I do know there are one-hundred percent people out there who have the same driver’s knowledge that I had before I took my course in driver’s education. Driver’s education teaches you the fundamental basics of how to drive in all conditions, whether that mean hot temperatures or cold or even behind a truck on the highway. Unlike the courses I have taken in school where a month after finishing it, I am unable to retain any of its contents, my driver’s education course has stuck with me for years. I remember everything from driver’s education out of necessity but also for safety. I remember being so nervous the first time I drove with my mom. But, when I remembered the steps my instructor went over, not only did I feel more at ease for myself, but for my mom and any car or person that entered the parking lot we were practicing in. Driver’s education has the power to teach an individual the steps to driving safely and reducing deaths as a result of driving to a great extent.
In Maryland, as new drivers we are required to take driver’s education to qualify to take the driving test. However, in some states this requirement is not for all new drivers but only for new drivers that are teenagers. I feel like mandating driver’s education, federally for all new drivers, there can be a great reduction in the number of deaths induced by driving. Just because people may be older than teenagers doesn’t mean they simply know everything that is taught in driver’s education. I also feel like driver’s education needs to be a little more interactive so that everyone can retain this crucial information. I remember taking my course online and there weren’t many rules to make sure I was paying attention at every given second. I feel like if they were more interactive and a little less monotonous, it would be more appealing to do, which would increase the amount of people willing to take driver’s education.
I have been in two car accidents before, both very minor but they had many effects on me and my future driving. One of these times I got distracted by some cherry blossoms on my drive home from school and though I wasn’t going fast, and I was going uphill, I still rearended the person in front of me. This was a very scary experience because it was my first accident, and I was alone. I didn’t really know what to do or say and after this I made it my priority to eliminate all distractions but focus on only the road. The other time I was in an accident was a year or so later and I was trying to park. However, I was with my friends and wasn’t paying attention as much as I needed to, and I hit the front of the car on a pole. Again, the result of my distractions was another accident. Since these times I have learned a lot and have realized that it is ok to ask for silence when I need to focus on the road because my driving affects everyone, not just me.
Along with eliminating distractions to become a better driver, something that I learned in driver’s education that I need to reinforce in little routine before I begin driving. This means checking my mirrors so that they are angled in a way I can see the road and my surroundings. This means adjusting my chair and steering wheel so that it fits me perfectly. These small things can make such a difference when you drive and can prevent an accident from happening. I know a lot of people struggle with being distracted from music and while I never have had this issue since I make sure it isn’t too loud, I think some people need to make sure that their music allows them to drive safely. I have been able to learn this through experience, but others may not realize how passengers can have major effects on the way a person drives. It’s really important to communicate with your passengers about anything you may need, so that not only do you get everyone to the destination safely, but also every other driver on the road.