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Round 3 – Importance of Driver’s Education

Name: Duane Justin Owens
From: Lake Worth, FL
Votes: 0

Importance of Driver’s Education

Defensive Driving Scholarship

Duane Owens 3/29/2020

Did you know that according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, graduates from a teen defensive driving school possessed cumulative crash

rates 77 percent lower than the general 15 to 19 year old population? On the other hand, safe defensive driving means driving with a predictable mind especially when making sharp turns, driving in adverse weather conditions, or when making smart decisions on the road with other drivers. Drivers education is needed to raise the

awareness of safe driving so that drivers could become better prepared for predictable weather patterns, maintain a safe driving record, and for drivers to combat the national problem of distracted driving.

To start off with, defensive driving classes installs current driver’s the ability to have a safe driving record. Aggressive drivers constantly break the speed limits, weave in and out of lanes, and often tailgate other drivers, leading to possible intentional car crashes. Defensive drivers abide by the speed limits and follow all traffic signs and signals by diligently checking blind spots, leaving space for others to pass, and using their signal when turning or changing lanes. They do not assume that another drive is going to

move out of the way or allow them to move. The Federal Highway Administration also reports that out of nearly six million vehicular crashes that occur every year in the U.S. about 22 percent are weather-related. When there is severe weather, oils from motor

vehicles cause the road to become slippery. Common prevention techniques that could be helpful during severe weather include being aware of reaction distance, knowing your vehicle’s stopping distance, and knowing the right of way. The National Institute to Health showed that 88% of patients who died at the scene of an accident or were transported to the hospital were within 10 miles of their home when the accident happened. Even in familiar neighborhoods, safe drivers tend to feel relaxed and break the rules.

Defensive driving courses teaches students to avoid dangers and teach them how to handle different situations on the road. When you are driving it is not only your safety that you are concerned about, but the safety of other drivers on the road and your passengers in your car. Defensive driving courses would not allow regard the safety of the driving, but will go over critical driving laws. Driving at higher speeds makes controlling your vehicle much more difficult in worst case scenarios. According to the state of California statutes, the use of electronic wireless devices are prohibited. There is a $162 fine for the first offense, and a $285 fine for the second offense. For reckless

driving, greater fines and jail time are imposed. Even unnoticed parts such as the brakes or headlights could cause dangers on the road. To change this action, you should visit a certified mechanic to have your brakes changes when they are getting worn out. Once a month, you should also check to make sure that all of your headlights, brake lights, and signal lights are working. No one would like to drive especially in dark or foggy settings, without fog lights or high beam lights.

Furthermore, driver’s education seeks to curb the nationwide issue of distracted driving. In a defensive driving course, you also study the state’s limits to blood alcohol limits, how motor skills and senses are affected by drugs, and the consequences of

being found guilty of driving under the influence. This allows you to become a proactive and informed driver. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts the driver’s attention from driving. This can include socializing with other passengers, sending messages on the phone, sleeping, eating or drinking. If you are very tired, you should try pulling over to the closest stop to rest, or not even drive at all since sleeping on the wheel would risk your life. For instance, a year ago, I was saddened about how one of my friends crushed their bones after being in a devastating driving incident in stormy conditions. I recalled the words he told me while he was in the emergency room “For the first twenty minutes, I simply sat. It did not occur to me to make any texts or get out of the car. At this point, the world sat still and all I was observing was gusts of wind with lightning strikes. Looking around, there was a smashed airbag crushed into my arms, the steering wheel toward the angle of my belly, all sorts of debris from the motor engine.

The place looked as if it was a warzone. I thought my life was over”. From that point, I started to convince my friend by joining campaigns and educational programs to bring collective change about defensive driving. For example, my friend could become

involved in Drop It and Drive, which is a group that aims to stop distracted driving by showing the extreme dangers of driving through simulators.

Conclusively, in defensive driving classes, students learn to improve their driving skills by reducing possible driving risks by making well-informed decisions. Over time as you drive, you gain knowledge and become more confident, which would prevent accidents from happening. Not only defensive driving enables safe drivers to make smart decisions, but it could also save hundreds of dollars and the lives of many youths. Hence defensive driving would give families and students a sense of relaxation and accomplishment.