The importance of taking a driver’s education course is to learn how to be a responsible and safe driver. Driver’s education provides the knowledge and tools on how to keep yourself and others safe while driving a vehicle. Knowing the rules of the road helps everyone to follow the same rules, travel in the same direction, and to know when someone is doing something wrong. Driver's education not only teaches you the importance of keeping your eyes on the road and anticipating what might happen around you while driving, but it also encourages you to be a responsible driver by not using drugs or alcohol while driving, as it will impair your driving and increase the likelihood of something bad happening to you or others around you, such as an accident.. Even one alcoholic beverage could put you over the legal limit, so it is best not to drink any alcohol if you plan to drive. Driver’s education also highlights that not only drugs and alcohol can impair your judgment while driving, but prescription medication can also impair your judgment and cause accidents to happen.
There are many ways to reduce the deaths caused by driving. The best way would be to remain safe and sober every time you get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Being safe and sober will also help you if someone else on the road is not being safe and sober, as you can react quickly when your senses are fully aware of what is occurring around you and have a better chance of avoiding or limiting the impact of being hit by an unsafe driver. If you drive while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or prescription medication, you can be affected by blurred vision and lack the amount of time needed to react to avoid an accident, which may cause death.
Another way to reduce deaths caused by driving is to remain focused and not be distracted by others in the car or by using cell phones or social media while driving. This takes away from being able to concentrate on what is happening around you while you drive and you are less likely to be able to focus on the road ahead and any obstacles that might occur, including avoiding an accident, which might cause death.
Lastly, getting a full night’s rest and making sure that your vehicle is in good working order will keep everyone safe while driving and is less likely to cause death while driving. On average, a teen ages 16-18 needs about 8-10 hours while an adult ages 18-65 and older need about 7-9 hours of rest each night. Not getting a full nights rest can impact how you feel the rest of the day and cause you to fall asleep behind the wheel, putting yourself and others in jeopardy of being involved in an accident that could kill someone.
Fortunately, I have not been involved in a car accident. My parents and adult sister use their cell phones while driving; however, they have not been involved in a car accident or caused any harm to themselves while driving. When I see this occur, I remind them to put their phones down and concentrate on the road. Despite my family members using their phones while driving, I do not use my phone while driving and I wait until I put my car in park before looking at my phone. I have a great support system and they have taught me to always be safe and responsible while driving and to always watch the road, which is also what I learned from my driver’s education courses.
As I think of ways that I can be a better and safer driver, along with helping others to become safer on the road, I will make sure that I have had a full night’s rest before driving, make sure I have my cell phone out of reach and out of sight before driving, and make sure to remind others to do the same. I will also make sure that I am safe and sober each time I get behind the wheel of a vehicle and encourage others to do the same, as I do not want to die and I do not want any of my family and friends to die for something that is completely avoidable. If we all work together to make the roads safer, we can hopefully avoid having car accidents, which can cause death and the end senseless loss of life.