The Importance of Driver's Education

Learning how to properly drive is important for the safety of yourself and others on the road. More specifically, knowing the rules of the road, how to be cautious, and how to quickly react in dangerous situations can reduce the number of deaths while driving. These aspects of driving are taught in all Driver’s Ed classes. Driver’s Ed class teaches the rules of the road, such as the meaning of all posted road signs, to help understand how to drive safely. Throughout the course in Driver’s Ed, it helps prepare each student to be cautious while driving by being aware of their surroundings, such as pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, and buildings. Driving practice behind the wheel and understanding all the rules will help reduce accidents on the road.  Driver's Ed classes make sure to go into detail with each aspect of driving. However, no matter what information the teacher gives the students, it is the students’ responsibility to listen and pay attention. There are many examples of why a student could miss out on learning material. They could not show up on time for class or get distracted on their phone and miss important information from the teacher. Whatever information was missed could poorly affect the new driver’s driving, meaning they could endanger someone else’s life.

Car accidents can sometimes be unavoidable no matter how cautious a driver is because other drivers can be distracted while driving. There are a few steps a safe driver can take to ensure an accident doesn’t result in death. Examples are always wear seat belts, avoid phone distractions by powering off the phone or keeping it out of sight, avoid driving after drinking alcohol or using other drugs by having a designated driver, obey posted speed limits, match your speed to weather conditions like when it is raining or icy, stay a certain distance behind someone to reduce bumping into the car infront, and keep an eye out for any reckless drivers. According to state law, car insurance and current registration are required. These are important items to have when something bad does happen. All of these steps are important when driving because if just one is not followed, there could be consequences to the driver or others.

As an example of irresponsible driving, my dad rarely ever turns on his turn signal when he is either changing lanes or turning onto a different road. The only time he uses his turn signal is if he is at a busy intersection with a stop sign and no lane specifically for people turning. Fortunately, he has never gotten into a car accident; however, his bad habit could get him into one someday. Though my dad has not gotten into a car accident, my grandma has. She was stopped behind a car at a stop light when the car behind her came up and hit her. This action caused the airbags to deploy and my grandma’s car to hit the car in front of her. This accident caused her to get a big bruise on her face, her seven-month-old car to be totaled, and it was something she could not avoid.

I have been driving for about a year now and have not gotten into any accidents or tickets; however, I almost got into an accident about two months ago when I was driving on a 55-mile-per-hour, two-lane road with a hidden crossroad on the right. There was a car tailing behind me and a car at the hidden crossroad. This car was trying to turn in the same direction that I was going in order to get onto a road at the next intersection fifteen feet after. This car came out of the hidden crossroad right in front of me, and then they stopped suddenly to turn left. I had to brake hard in order not to crash into that car. Thankfully, the car that was tailing me was paying attention and braked hard to avoid crashing into me. That day, I could have been sandwiched badly, but I was not because I kept an eye out for the cars around me and was ready to quickly react. This experience will be my reminder to always be cautious, observant, and ready to act while driving.

To conclude, many different aspects of driving need to be taught and put into practice to limit dangerous events that could happen. However, no matter how cautious and law-abiding someone is, there is still a chance that a car accident could occur.