Why Driver's Education is Important

Why Drivers ed is Important

As a driver, there are always reasons to be cautious on the road. Even though driving might seem like a routine that can be mastered and memorized to the T, even professionals are still susceptible to causing or being victims of crashes. When on the road, it is not only the driver's responsibility to stay safe, it is also every other driver’s to keep both themselves and others on the road safe. Educated drivers are aware of the dangers that could happen while on the road, the real danger is the uneducated vehicle owners that are causing disruption on the roadways and are conceivably rob innocent people of their lives. It is not only important to be educated about the dangers of driving, but it is also important to take certain precautions before driving to decrease your chances of getting involved in a roadway accident. Not only that, but steps can be taken while driving can also be used to decrease the chances of a driver hurting themselves or another driver.

Before one can obtain their driver's permit, the state of Texas requires that the driver must have completed an approved Texas Driver’s Education course, or take a written test proving that you are knowledgeable of the rules of the road. Taking a drivers education course is a step that a driver must take to be knowledgeable of the rules and dangers of not following those rules. Another step that a driver can take is to practice safety tactics. For example, following the speed limit, using your blinkers, and wearing the seatbelt would all be steps that a driver could take to ensure their safety. Drivers who wear seatbelts are 45% less likely to b seriously injured in a crash, and 30 times less likely to be ejected from the vehicle during a car crash. Failure to use signals during lane changes has been the cause of nearly two million accidents nationwide per year and distracted driving accounts for 58% of teen crashes. With education on theses statistics and knowledge of how to avoid it would encourage drivers to perform these actions, and focus on getting to their destination safely.

Drivers who have been educated on these topics via drivers ed courses are 75% less likely to get a traffic ticket and 24% less likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Unfortunately, not everyone has the resources to attend a drivers education course. To encourage safe roadway practices, states should make drivers ed seminars free and required before one is allowed to retrieve a license. Not only that, but states should also require a license retriever to pass a road test, no matter what age. With these laws in place, the rate of accidents, traffic violations, and driving discrepancies will drastically decrease.

As someone who has been personally affected with multiple encounters of irresponsible drivers causing distress, I have noticed that those who either do not own a license or those who received their license at age 18, avoiding having to take a road test or a drivers safety course are those who caused the most damage to the vehicle I was riding in at the time. Knowing that there are drivers who were not required to learn about drivers' safety and the dangers of not following the correct protocol instills me with a sense of fear. I have taken a driver's safety course, road test, written test and have completed 10 hours of monitored drive time with a drivers education instructor. As an informed vehicle operator, I have not caused any roadway accidents or been pulled over for a traffic violation other than having a missing headlight.

Having an adequate amount of drivers ed before being able to receive a license at every age should be a state law. Drivers should be required to take a safety course and pass both a road and a written test. For those who cannot afford or do not have the resources to complete a course, the state should provide free seminars and allot a time where those who qualify for the free seminar will be able to complete both their road and written test in an orderly fashion. With these new regulations in place, there will be a sharp decrease in roadway accidents and the idea of safe driving will be encouraged and normalized.