Driver Education Initiative 2023: In the Driver’s Seat

As a newly licensed 17-year-old, I believe that driver education plays a crucial role in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving. The importance of driver education cannot be overstated, especially for young and inexperienced drivers like me who are just beginning to navigate the roads.

Firstly, driver education provides us with the necessary knowledge and skills to become responsible and cautious drivers. Learning the rules of the road, traffic laws, and safe driving practices helps us understand the potential dangers and risks associated with driving. By being well-informed, we are better equipped to make informed decisions and avoid reckless behaviors that could lead to accidents.

Secondly, driver education introduces us to defensive driving techniques. This training teaches us how to anticipate and react to potential hazards, such as sudden stops, distracted drivers, and adverse weather conditions. These skills are invaluable in preventing accidents and keeping ourselves and others safe on the road.

Moreover, driver education helps instill a sense of responsibility and accountability. Understanding the serious consequences of reckless driving and the impact it can have on others makes us more conscientious about our actions behind the wheel. As young drivers, it is essential for us to develop a strong sense of responsibility to protect ourselves and everyone else on the road.

Another significant aspect of driver education is the awareness it raises about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Learning about the severe impairments that substances can cause, and the potential legal consequences encourages us to make responsible choices and avoid driving while intoxicated.

Furthermore, driver education emphasizes the importance of eliminating distractions while driving, such as texting or using a phone. Understanding the potential risks of distracted driving helps us prioritize the task of driving itself and remain focused on the road.

However, driver education should be redone every ten years by all drivers as a refresher and to remind everyone on the road of the importance of staying safe on the roads.

I strongly advocate for making driver education mandatory throughout high schools, not just a quick half-semester course in some schools or some states. A four-year comprehensive driver education program would ensure that all students receive thorough and practical training, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills for responsible driving. Chances are that 99% of my classmates will drive at some point, but that percentage may not use Sciences, or Math or Language Arts or Social Sciences. If we focus on a rigorous high school program to meet credits for each course family, I believe that we should do the same thing for driving, and other life skills that we all require or are likely to use in life.

States like New Jersey should reconsider policies that provide incentives to driving schools, thereby making them ensure certain well-paying students have it easy on the roads. This practice of forcing all teenagers under eighteen to utilize the services of driving schools overwhelms the driving schools and creates crash courses for driving.

The automotive industry’s ongoing efforts to make cars safer each day are commendable. Advances such as automatic features and driving computers like Tesla contribute to accident prevention. Continued research and implementation of safety technologies should be a priority.

While it may seem like a humorous suggestion from my mom, I see the value in drivers wearing helmets, especially for young, new drivers and advanced age drivers. Helmets can provide an extra layer of protection in case of accidents, especially in cases of head injuries.

Cars should be equipped with alcohol detection systems like seatbelt sensors. If alcohol is detected in the car, the ignition should lock, preventing drunk driving and potentially saving lives.

By adding these steps to what we are already practicing, we can work towards creating a safer road environment for everyone.

I have not been in a car accident. However, one time my sister was driving with a relative and the relative’s phone kept ringing. They were both very familiar with the road and were driving below the speed limit. The driver looked at her phone for a second, as they told me, and that was just the second that the car in front suddenly died in the middle of the road and stopped. My sister and the driver swerved dangerously up a cliff and narrowly escaped hitting the rear of the stalled car in front of them. Whenever they meet, they are still shaken. We all learned that even a second of distraction can cause an accident.

This is a complicated question because it takes everyone for roads to be safe. However, it would start from me. If I do not drive, and a few others do not drive; the roads will have lesser cars, and that might increase safety. Avoiding distractions, however minimal, would help us all, and this includes ensuring that we know where we are going before driving there so that we do not hesitate to make our turns unnecessarily. Ensuring that the car I am driving has enough gas and is well serviced is another thing that we should all do. We should also all practice leaving about thirty minutes earlier so that we cushion time for traffic and are not in a rush to get anywhere.