Saving a Life

Teenagers across the United States can’t wait for the day they turn sixteen, not because they’re “coming of age,” but because they are finally eligible to drive on their own. Most teenagers count down the days until they’re able to feel the thrill of being behind the steering wheel, but other teenagers would rather stay safe in the passenger seat. Many teenagers choose to not get their license because they fear driving and everything that comes with it.

When driving a car, it’s something that can’t be taken lightly, it takes your undivided attention and situational awareness. Driver’s Education is a class that helps teenagers learn those skills and gives new drivers the experience of what they have yet to experience when driving a car. As a former student in a Drivers Ed class I learned more in the classroom and in the backseat of a car than in the driver’s seat. They teach much more than just road signs, and laws; they teach students how to take care of a car, insurance policies, drunk driving, and much more. By using these teaching methods, the class has proven that students who do not take Driver’s Education are twenty-four percent more likely to be in a fatal or injury accident. This class is one of the most important classes a high school has to offer, based on helping save students' lives and help them feel comfortable behind the wheel.

As a teenager I thought driving was going to be fun and set me free, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Driving is one of the most dangerous things a person can do because even just going down the road you risk your life. More than ninety people die in car accidents every day and with the help from Drivers ed and other driver courses that number can be reduced. Taking the course, I have learned how to apply the things that I’ve been taught and can safely get from place to place. I used to despise my parents for making me take what I thought was a boring class, but it turned out to save my life along with other teenagers.

Riding in the passenger seat of any car I’m always aware of our surroundings and being aware of what’s going on. Many people abuse driving and my friend is one of those people. One night, my friend was driving me and a group of people home from practice and she was looking down at her phone and veered over into the other lane. If I wasn’t in the passenger seat being aware of my surroundings, I wouldn’t have screamed at her and she wouldn’t have gotten back in her lane. Without Drivers ed teaching me the importance of situational awareness even in the passenger seat, I may have not been here today. As many teenagers across the world set off to get their license, they may want to sign up for a class that can save a life.