As someone who has taken Drivers Ed through my school, and has a
Drivers Ed teacher as a father, I recognize the importance of this
class. We spent weeks learning about the dangers of driving and how
to lessen the dangers. Students are not only taught the rules of the
road, but they are shown why these rules are so impactful. I remember
clearly being shocked at the videos of crashes that were shown in my
classroom. Many of these accidents were caused by people who thought
they were above the law, but the rules are meant to keep us alive.
The most essential step to reducing driving-related deaths is
understanding the severity of the situation; 38,800 people died in
2019. This huge number can be decreased by wearing seatbelts,
yielding to oncoming traffic and obeying speed limits. I have
personal experience with the importance of these guidelines because I
was T-boned in the driver’s door last June. The other driver was
speeding, which severely worsened the accident and caused them to be
unable to stop. Thankfully, I was wearing my seatbelt, otherwise it
could’ve been a much more traumatic accident. From this day on, I
have been a much more cautious driver and consistently remind others
around me to heed the rules of the road because it truly does save
lives. I am living-proof of that statement.