The Importance of Drivers Ed

Taking drivers ed as a high school student is extremely important. Statistics from newsroom.unl.edu show that teenagers who don’t take drivers ed in school are 75% more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident, and 16% more likely to have an accident. By taking drivers ed in high school, students learn the laws of driving and how to operate a car. They also get practice driving a car with a driving instructor.

There are many steps teens and adults can take to be safe on the roads, including wearing a seatbelt. Choosing to wear a seatbelt could be life changing. In 2017, out of the 37,133 people that were killed in an automobile related accident, 47% were not wearing a seatbelt. Imagine what could have happened if those 47% had made the small yet crucial decision to buckle their seatbelts.

Another thing that seems simple but can be life altering is not getting distracted while driving. Put your phone away while driving! Whatever text message or Instagram notification popped up on your phone while you were driving on the freeway can wait. Think about what is more important: responding to your friend’s text about what movie you should go see – or being actually able to go to the movies.

To go along with not getting distracted, don’t drink and drive! Staying sober is so important while driving. Not only does it keep you safe, but it keeps everyone else on the road safe. Statistics show that about 30 people die each day in an accident caused by drunk driving. You have the ability to say no and stay sober.

Another great step to take to keep you and other drivers safe on the road is making sure you know your car. Know how to turn on the blinker, the headlights, and the windshield wipers. And make sure everything in your car works properly. Do not hesitate to get your car fixed if something is majorly wrong. To avoid car problems on the road, one thing you can do is walk around your car before driving and just observe it. If anything looks abnormal, investigate it. It is okay to be late because you were being safe.

Fortunately, I have never been involved in a car accident. But I have seen some family members drive irresponsibly, including not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, and being on their phones. As a teenage driver I am going to do everything I can to stay safe and keep other drivers on the road safe. When I’m driving, I will make sure that I am wearing my seatbelt and everyone else in the car is wearing their seatbelts. I will also make sure that everything in my car is working properly and get help if something appears wrong. By taking drivers ed, following the traffic rules, and not getting distracted, we can make a difference on the road.