What would driving on the road be like if no one took Driver's Ed? That's a question that came to mind while thinking of the importance of driver's education. The first answer that popped into my brain was no one should pass their driver’s test without the skills learned in Driver’s Ed. Aside from that, I also thought about what I learned from my Driver’s Ed class. Of course I learned about the road signs and the rules that one should know while driving, like who has the right of way at a stop sign, or do you slow down or speed up at a yellow light? I also learned how being on your cell phone significantly increases the likelihood of getting in a car crash. Even just being on a call increases the likelihood of getting in a crash. Driver education made me aware of the dangers of being on the road and ways I can avoid dangerous situations. The videos and driving simulations gave me a sense of the road before getting behind the wheel for the first time. Learning the rules was easy, but learning to pay attention and the impact one bad decision could have on my life or the lives of others is an invaluable part of Driver’s Education. If students did not get that kind of awareness, they would not be cautious on the road and are more likely to get in more accidents. Statistics show that students who take Driver’s Ed lower their risk of getting into accidents and receiving traffic tickets. It also provides a nice discount on car insurance.
Unfortunately I haven’t always used the things I learned in Drivers Ed and I ended up getting in an accident. I hit a parked car in my school parking lot as I was rushing to get to class. Going over the speed limit in a parking lot was something I knew better than to do. Thankfully no one was injured, but the fact I got into an easily avoidable crash was very upsetting to me as well as the other person. My parents ended up paying for the damages of the car I hit. I was completely aware of the large amount of money I cost my parents, and although they were glad I was not hurt; I knew they were very disappointed in my lack of judgment. The experience taught me a lesson; no matter how safe you think you are on the road, it's important to always pay attention and follow the rules. Thankfully, I have not been in another accident, and it is not an experience that I would like to repeat.
Some of the things I personally did to become an overall safer driver was to always be attentive. There are times while on the road my attention wanes and I start to mindlessly drive. I have the habit of getting lost in my thoughts or daydreams. The more aware I became of this habit, the less it happens. While driving, I try to constantly remind myself of the rules and safety habits I learned as a student in Driver’s Education. The second thing I did was reduce the amount of tasks I did while driving. Whether that be eating or talking or being on my phone. All the extra tasks one does while driving can be distracting from the road. In that one second it takes to change the channel or call someone could be the second a car randomly stops. As a teen driver, it is easy to get distracted by friends, a great song, or our own reflection in the mirror. I would encourage all drivers to be aware of the heavy responsibility we all have to be cautious drivers. Mississippi has one of the highest fatality rates for teen car accidents; being a safe driver could really mean the difference between life and death. Driver’s Education is a valuable tool to help decrease the number of car accidents. It took me getting in a crash to start doing all the things I initially learned in Drivers Education. However, I have been a much safer driver since then; and I plan to continue this habit into my adult life. In a perfect world, everyone would use the knowledge and skills learned from Driver’s Education to help make the roads a safer place. We can also use our knowledge to help friends and family understand the importance of being a safe driver.