The Importance of Driver Education

Every time you get behind the wheel, it is not just your life at risk, but also those around you. Whether that is a passenger in your car, a pedestrian crossing the road, or someone in another lane, one mistake could not only kill yourself but also end the lives of potentially multiple people. Driver education plays an extreme role when it comes to reducing the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents. When drivers are exposed to education about traffic safety, they improve in awareness, responsibility, and driving skills.

As a new driver who was parent-taught, I was made aware of how crucial paying attention while driving actually is. When I learned to drive, my dad and younger brother both rode in the vehicle. My dad got me an old truck to practice in so that if something were to happen, we would still be safe. By going out of his way to provide a sturdy vehicle and allowing my brother to ride with me, he was able to physically show me how dangerous the road is. Knowing that not only my life but also my dad’s and brother’s lives could be heavily impacted by my driving, I learned how to drive safely rather than recklessly.

When I got my permit, I took a drivers ed course and used my dad’s instructions to learn the importance of traffic safety. The program told me what signs and laws meant and what to do in emergency situations, but my dad showed me how to implement them into real life.

Sometimes knowing what to do in a situation is different when you’re not the problem. Being educated in driving isn’t just understanding laws and following them; it’s also understanding how to be aware of your surroundings. If someone is swerving, following you, or even just acting strange, it is important to know when to keep your distance and how to handle the situation.

The number of deaths caused each year in America by traffic accidents is approximately 40,000. Roughly 20% of accidents involve a non-licensed driver who has not been properly taught driver education. In order to improve the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents, I think that better measures should be taken by law enforcement to catch and stop unlicensed drivers. Ways to do this include strongly communicating to licensed drivers to not let others drive their vehicle and giving harsher penalties to unlicensed drivers caught multiple times. I also think other measures to be taken could include lowering fines for drivers willing to obtain a license and supporting low-cost driving schools. I think that by taking this measure, law enforcement can reduce the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents on the road.

My family has had a fair amount of experience when it comes to unsafe driving. We have had close family friends and some distant relatives killed by drivers driving under the influence or just not paying attention. As sad as it is to say, some of these deaths could have been avoided by our family staying buckled and secure in their seats. Some accidents, on the other hand, could only have been avoided by the other driver making wiser decisions. Just one look at a text, one lane switch without checking, or one miss of a red light could cause pain, physically and emotionally, to so many people.

In order to be a safer driver, I need to pay better attention to my surroundings. I need to worry less about what’s happening inside the car and worry more about what is happening on the road around me. It is also important to drive in the right mindset. When my brain is foggy and my thoughts are overburdening, or I have been stressed out, I notice that my driving qualities are not as good as I want or need them to be.

When I am driving with my brother, we have a car rule that if I say I need him to, he will be quiet, turn the music off, help me watch traffic, or do what is needed in the present moment. Obviously this rule is handled with care and only used during stressful situations, but it is crucial that he understands how heavy outside distractions can impact my driving. This rule has come in handy many times, such as when traffic is hectic or the weather is heavy. I think it is important that your passengers understand drivers safety as well, not so they can give driving instructions from the passenger seat, but so they can help lessen the burden of traffic during tough situations.

In conclusion, driver education is very important for your safety and those around you. It is important not just to know traffic safety laws, but also how to implement them. Deaths caused by traffic incidents can be reduced by law enforcement focusing on non-licensed drivers and educating them or getting them off the road. In order to be a safe driver, I need to drive without distractions and focus on my surroundings, but it is also important that your passengers know how to be less of a distraction when you are driving. These are all important factors to reduce deaths caused by traffic accidents.