Being a young driver causes a lot of anxiety for both a new driver and their family. When driving, even as an experienced driver, there is the constant risk of accident related injuries or even death. Newer drivers are especially at risk as they lack the experience in driving that many older drivers already have. Experienced drivers, however, are not exempt from the risks that arise from the lack of respect for the safety of others that drivers also show on the road. Driver’s Education is of great importance and a wonderful tool for educating drivers on how to be safe. Notably because of the many ways taught to reduce the number of driving related deaths. While Driver's Education is a powerful tool in keeping drivers and pedestrians safe, it is not a magic pill in eliminating all driving related mishaps.

Many driving related deaths can be prevented through Driver’s Education, as these classes teach how to be safe when on the road. Driver’s Education is a huge step for new drivers, having to learn about the risks of driving. It also teaches them how to safely interact on the road to keep themselves and the people around them safe. It is important for newer drivers to learn the ways that they can make the roads safe so they can appropriately follow the laws and be good role models in the future. By educating the new generation of drivers, the roads will hopefully be an increasingly safer place. Additionally, by making Driver’s Education mandatory, they learn the significance of driver’s safety, showing the students what could possibly happen if not careful. Unfortunately, even after taking these important classes, not many take into consideration the importance of the laws of the road and the steps that can be taken to reduce driving-related deaths.

As mentioned before, there are many steps taught to help drivers be more cautious and mindful about how they are driving with people around them. These steps are taught to reduce the amount of deaths related to driving. Only then, do they start to think about how to reduce the risk of injury to themselves and the drivers around them. The most notable of these steps include awareness of automobile safety laws, the importance of not becoming distracted while driving, and refraining from driving while even mildly intoxicated. Through the teachings of Driver’s Education, along with the laws of the road, the students are taught the ways to ensure their safety along with others’ safety. While these rules are a huge help to keeping the roads safe and continuing to make them safer, people still can end up getting into accidents that can cause injuries or even death.

Automobile safety laws are created and adopted to keep all drivers and pedestrians safe. These laws are put in place to create a system of punishment for non-compliance. These safety laws are sometimes bothersome and inconvenient, but they have been put in place to not only protect the driver’s life, but other motorists as well. Through Driver’s Education, and the subsequent written test before achieving a driver’s license, every driver shows their understanding of the adopted laws. In that case, motorists cannot claim ignorance to the laws they have shown they have a firm understanding of.

Most newer drivers are young in age and can become very easily distracted by their cell phones and/or music. This is a common cause of accidents for the younger demographic. Driver’s Education focuses heavily on the importance of ‘hands free driving’. This generation of younger drivers is faced with many more distractions but enrollment and active participation in Driver’s Education can reduce the number of distraction related injuries and deaths.

Driving while intoxicated is the most dangerous and catastrophic type of motorist infraction. My dad’s friend, Shandi, got into an accident with a drunk driver, who disregarded every step that Driver’s Education taught to him when he first got his license. Unfortunately Shandi did not make it, and that event changed my whole perspective on driving. It made me realize that the lives of the people on the road are in the hands of everyone else. This happening in my life so suddenly was truly a wake up call for me, having to mourn and witness the people I was close with mourn such a lively person’s passing, all because somebody decided to disobey the law and drive while intoxicated. The tragedy that unfolded that day happened before I had my license. It showed me that I truly cannot be safe on the road, unless all drivers remember and practice the safety steps they learned in Driver’s Education. I realized that this happens because people do not follow the learning they received in Driver’s Education, either through selfishness or disregard for their fellow drivers. This is extremely unfortunate for everyone who follows the laws of driving because they run the risk of being injured, or even killed, in a scenario where they do not have full control of their environment, like Shandi.

For my own safety and the safety of others around me, I can follow a handful of rules that will keep me focused on the road. Firstly, I can choose to not take a phone call while I am driving, as it will distract me from my surroundings and from the road in front of me. Additionally, I will set up my Spotify music while I am in park, so I am not on my phone while on the road. Being on the phone makes me and everyone around me more susceptible to injury because there is no focus on the road and no situational awareness. Finally, for my safety and the safety of others around me, when I am of drinking age I will not attempt to drive if I am at all intoxicated. I will make sure to call an Uber or have a friend drive me home. I will also require my friends and family to do the same to keep ourselves and everyone around us safe. Another way I can do to help others become safer on the road is to use my experiences in Driver’s Education to spread the word about how beneficial it is. I started driving at a very young age and through Driver’s Education I have learned a lot. I will make sure to encourage my younger peers to pursue Driver’s Education.