Driving Is a Privilege Not a RIght

The
importance of drivers ed is that it ensures people are
knowledgeable about road rules, defensive driving, and common
mistakes to avoid when driving for the first time. On the other hand,
drivers ed can be very cut and dry and not very engaging—many
people who take the class focus on getting it over with, sometimes
forgetting vital information. Steps to take for improving driver
education is updating the video materials to make it applicable to
students nowadays. I remember the videos being laughable because they
were out of date. Consistency for types of guest speakers is crucial.
Some classes might have a specific guest speaker that another did not
have.

Additionally,
implementing more innovative quizzing methods, for example, Kahoot or
Quizlet Live. Both are much more engaging forms of quizzing. Part of
the curriculum could involve a student to parent engagement where
students ask parents about their positive and negative experiences as
a driver and passenger. It would incentivize students to get the
assignment done, and they would learn from their parents.

Beyond
the well-known measures to decrease vehicle-related deaths, avoiding
overreliance on the vehicle’s safety mechanism is critical. I often
catch myself depending on my backup camera to the extent that I can
become less confident when driving in a car that does not have one.
As much as the electronic safety features are proven to prevent
accidents, it is still essential to have the skills to drive a
vehicle without them. Fatigue is another, often overlooked, factor of
these incidents. “How could I suffer from this? I am too busy
paying attention to the road.” I would say, but it can
unexpectedly and quickly settle in as I have experienced.

As I mentioned before, I have
been in a few vehicle incidents. One was a car accident, where I
skidded on black ice, going around a corner just beside my home in
the dark. I crashed into a parked vehicle. As scary as it was, I was
mainly concerned that my younger sister and her friend were alright.
The car was not worth fixing, and I learned from then on to not be
overconfident in any weather. There was another time when I was
pulling out of a tight parking spot and did not leave enough space
between the right side-view mirror and a supporting pillar, causing
me to crack the mirror. I took full responsibility for paying for the
damage. Lastly, I was driving out-of-state on a countryside road and
got a speeding ticket for going 15 miles over the speed limit.
Fortunately, after a frantic gathering of the right materials, I was
able to reduce the fine by half. Even if I think I will not get
caught speeding is not worth the potential danger I can be to others
or the amount I have to pay when caught. Young drivers forget that
driving is a privilege and not a right. This mentality needs to
change so that everyone feels safe on the roads.