Driving irresponsibly affects not only those in the perpetrating car but also those in surrounding vehicles. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that safe driving is taught and practiced. I believe that driver's education is crucial and should be taught to those who wish to drive. 
Those who drive recklessly do not tend to think about the repercussions of their actions. It is known that 34,000 people die from motor vehicle crashes every year. This statistic alone should be enough to convince people to think twice about how they drive; however, some were just never taught the rules of the road properly. Driver’s education aims to teach individuals the correct way to drive to reduce the number of deaths reported each year. I believe those who wish to procure their driver’s license should attend driver’s education to ensure safety on the road they are driving. Not only will this possibly save their life, but it will also make it safer for those who are also on the road. 
Personally, when I obtained my driver’s permit and license, I was 16 years old. At this time in my life, COVID-19 was still prominent. This means that our driver’s education courses were strictly online, which means it was harder for some to learn and comprehend some of the most important information about driving. While the age of acquiring a driver’s permit differs across state lines, 15 or 16 is a young age at which teenagers are less responsible. Being 19 currently, I can say that I have matured significantly since then. I can recall being in high school and being surrounded by teenagers ranging from 16 to 18 years old who were able to drive. Leaving the parking lot at the end of the school day was always when I witnessed the most reckless and careless driving to this day. Teaching responsible driving habits, especially to potentially careless teenage drivers, is important. To further lessen the amount of deaths related to driving, I believe that driver’s education knowledge reviews should be encouraged. Gaining a permit or license at 15 or 16 is an early age. If driver’s education is administered at this age, there is the possibility that this knowledge could fade or be confused. While yes practicing safe driving after driver’s education is a review in and of itself, there is always room for a refreshing of skills and road rules. 
I am a transfer student at the University of Delaware currently, so it is my first year on campus. Within the first week of my being at the school, there was a fatal incident in which a freshman was struck and killed by a motorcyclist. The driver was speeding and evading the cops after committing multiple traffic offenses. Without paying attention, he struck an 18-year-old girl and four other pedestrians. If the motorcyclist had been driving safely in the first place, he would not have had the cops pursuing him and, therefore, would not have felt the need to be speeding away recklessly. The girl’s death rattled the school and especially everyone who knew and loved her. Because of someone else’s irresponsible driving, she is no longer with us.
I have only been a passenger in a potentially dangerous situation once. The driver in my situation was slightly intoxicated, without anyone else being aware of this detail. Their reckless driving was noticeable once we were already on the road, and it was enough to make the passengers, including myself, feel unsafe. I will never forget my heart racing with the anxiety of not knowing what to do. This experience alone was enough to make me never want to put anyone in that situation by being the one driving recklessly because I now know what it is like to feel unsafe and powerless in the passenger seat. While the driver in my situation was an adult and had already been through their own driver’s education, renewing the knowledge learned in driver’s education could have prevented this situation from occurring.
In this situation, the intoxicated driver was also endangering other drivers on the road. From the perspective of the other drivers, it is also important to know what to do if another driver is driving recklessly or exhibiting signs of intoxication or distractedness. Defensive driving courses offer drivers the knowledge of how to anticipate potentially dangerous situations presented by others and how to safely deal with them. It should go unsaid that the safest thing to do in a situation involving intoxicated driving is to report it to the police, but it is also important to know what else can be done to protect yourself in the moment. Maintaining a safe following distance, checking blind spots, and always being prepared are defensive driving skills that everyone should know just in case they are placed in a threatening situation.
In our society, I see that drivers are most concerned with getting where they need to be fast. This need takes away from the pressing matter of safety. Reminding drivers that they will not get to where they need to be won’t happen at all if they crash because of their careless driving. I feel as though this fact should be reiterated time and time in driving courses because it is often forgotten.