Approximately 40,000 plus people die from car wrecks every year. Many of these deaths can be avoided if we educate and equip people with the tools they need to stay safe on the road. Accidents are often caused by careless driver behavior due to a lack of education. Driver’s education reduces the number of traffic violations and fatal accidents.

During my time as a driver’s education instructor, I spent my time in the passenger seat of cars with brand new drivers. Many people suggested that I would spend my time as an instructor in fear, when in fact, new drivers felt much safer to drive with than those more experienced. New drivers know the laws and abide by them strictly. Many of my students understood the immense danger that cars can bring, so they stayed hypervigilant on the road. The students in my car had recently finished classroom driver’s education courses. During these courses, students are informed of the dangers of the road, safety precautions, and laws of the road. The students I taught made significant efforts to ensure the safety of themselves and others on the road. Many adults take these courses during their teenage years and never re-educate themselves on the information later in life. I would encourage all drivers to be open to learning and practice more conscious driving.

Adults become careless drivers because driving becomes a routine. Unlike new drivers, experienced drivers don’t have to think about the how-tos of driving. I have been driving for over 8 years and it has become something I know rather than something I have to think about. We as a society, can take steps to make driving safer for everyone on the road. Adults would benefit from a mandatory driver education course. This course would be short, but would force adults to think about driving in a more conscious way. Driver education is a tool that educates and informs. Within these courses, individuals gain valuable information about distracted driving consequences and steps to avoid it. Individuals can help the roads stay safer by minimizing distractions, only driving when in a fully alert state of mind, and following the road laws even when there is no police nearby.

When my brother was younger, he was involved in a car crash that totaled his car. My brother, thankfully, was left unharmed but my family and I have all been impacted by this accident . This crash was a result of impatient driving and carelessness on my brother’s part. He was making a left hand turn and sat in the middle of the intersection, very close to oncoming traffic traveling forward. An oncoming car hit him head on and flipped his car. My brother and I both grew up watching adults make this same move that could have cost him his life. Due to this event, we have all become more patient on the road. My family and I make sure to leave early so we don’t become stressed and put ourselves in a bad situation.

As a safe driver I have committed myself to a more conscious approach to driving. I minimize distractions while driving by keeping my phone connected to my car so I’m never tempted to look down. When I get into my car, I check my mirrors to make sure they are in the right place, I adjust my seat and steering wheel, and I always make sure to wear my seat belt. I am continuously learning and open to new safety precautions. When I moved to a new state, I had to take a new driver’s knowledge test. I studied and stayed vigilant while driving to make sure I understood the laws of my new state. I now have my new license and feel more confident on the roads because I know the laws. I am always practicing defensive driving. While driving, I am continuously scanning to make sure I’m aware of my surroundings. I also make sure to maintain a safe following distance, I stay out of blind spots, and I know to distance myself from reckless drivers. I want to live in a safer place so I lead by example.

I know that driver education plays a crucial role in reducing traffic violations and fatalities. Being open to continuous learning, practicing defensive driving, and staying vigilant on the roads will lead to a decrease in fatalities on the road. My time as a driving instructor as well as my experience driving have shown me the importance of driver education.