Getting your driver's license is a rite of passage for most 16-year-olds and your first step towards adulthood. For some students, driver’s education training will be their only opportunity to learn about automotive safety, car insurance, liability, and defensive driving techniques. Nearly 4 percent of all U.S. driver’s—more than 8.3 million people—are under 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This makes driver’s education important to the community even though driver’s education requirements differ widely from state to state.
Driver’s education programs spend a considerably amount of time making sure students understand all the rules of the road. They review traffic signals, signs, road markings and learn why it is important to yield to pedestrians and cyclists. They also review the correct way to navigate roundabouts, intersections, and lane changes. Understanding the seriousness of traffic violations (like speeding, running red lights, or failure to yield) helps to reduce teen accidents. There are also restrictions on passenger limits that new drivers may not be aware of if they do not attend driver’s training. Not to mention that you can also get discounts from insurance companies if you have completed a certified driver’s education course.
Per Forbes Advisor, a total of 2,883 teens between the ages of 13 and 19 lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents in 2022, so learning how to be a defensive driver can be a matter of life and death. Driver’s education training also covers the practical aspect of driving. It covers defensive driving techniques, vehicle controls, handling and maneuvering and reviews how to drive in bad weather. This training can also help drivers gauge whether a maneuver is safe or too risky. Most programs require hours of actual supervised driving with the student and teacher to demonstrate practical application of decision-making and judgment skills. Practicing driving techniques reduces the impact of human error and discourages reckless behaviors like road rage, driving impaired or cell phone distractions.
Per EducationWeek, most traffic accidents are caused by human error, including speeding, aggressive driving, fatigue, or inattention. “The risk of motor vehicle crash deaths are higher for new drivers ages 15-20 than other age groups, both for themselves and for passengers and other motorists” which makes driver’s education a must for new drivers.
Unfortunately, I was involved in two car accidents in the span of six months as a newer driver. The first accident did not involve another car, but a faulty battery connection and a loose battery that was not secured properly resulting in a fire that ultimately led to my car being totaled by the insurance company. The second accident happened 3 months after my first car was totaled and involved a deer and the neighborhood golf course. Fortunately, my dad happened to be driving at the time the deer ran headfirst into my vehicle. My dad was able to control the car enough to pull over to safety and we were able to exit the vehicle with no injuries. This is why the defensive driving portion of the course is so important. Helping young drivers understand how to conduct themselves in an emergency is critical to keeping them safe. Since I attended driver’s education and had over 80+ hours of supervised driving time; I was able to remain calm in these situations.
There are several ways that communities can encourage safer driving techniques. Requiring more in-depth driver’s education and enhanced road safety training along with stricter law enforcement of seatbelts and protective gear can all reduce accident rates and keep people safe. Auto manufacturers are also designing cars to protect occupants and perform better during crash-test. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) of each state are implementing intelligent management systems that better monitor traffic and adjust traffic signal timing in real time. This helps to regulate traffic flow.
Moving forward, these are some of the steps that I am going to continue to take to be a better and safer driver.



I will always use seatbelts and follow the speed limits.


I will make sure that I am not driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or driving sleepy.


I will follow the speed limits and obey all traffic laws.


I will limit my distractions by not texting or talking on the cell phone while I am driving.


I will always wear my eyeglasses or contacts while driving


I hope that my individual driving efforts combined with driver’s education, training and technology makes driving in the country a safer experience for everyone and encourages others to do the same.