Education is Key

Education is Key

Author: McKenzie Ragan

Driver’s education is a very important part of making roads safe. The knowledge a person gains by enrolling in a driver’s education class plays a main part in reducing the number of the fatalities that occur while driving every year. The class teaches the rules of the road, including signage, speed limits, road conditions, laws, violations, safety info, etc. Statistics show that after attending a driver’s education course, you are more informed and able to make critical decisions while operating a motor vehicle. Driver’s Education classes also include supervised driving. This allows one to gain road experience while being critiqued and graded.

In order to reduce the number of driving related deaths people should avoid distracted driving or driving while impaired. In today’s world people are often on their phones while driving. I think phones companies should partner with the automobile and insurance industries to equip all vehicles with hands free safety features. If operating a motor vehicle a phone should automatically shut down if no hands free features are available. I do not think this is far-fetched idea. An example of a safety feature in later model vehicles is the GPS control. The system will not allow you to program while the car is in motion. Something similar for phones shouldn’t be hard to implement. Insurance companies should also impose stricter penalties for those in accidents caused by using a cell phone.

In 2016, my older sister was killed in a car accident, she was a passenger in her own vehicle. She allowed her friend to operate her car. The friend was distracted and struck a pole that came through the car and killed my sister instantly. The driver was unhurt. Had this driver paid more attention to the road she could have easily avoided this accident and I could have my sister with me today. Taking selfies was more important than my sister’s life.

In order to make roads safer driver’s education classes should be mandated for all new drivers. I believe the course should also include a defensive driver’s course should be added. I also believe that the age to receive a driver’s license should be raised across the nation to 17. In addition I believe stricter rules for the number of passengers in a new driver’s vehicle as well as curfews for those under the age of 21 should be mandated.