Road Safety Through Increased Driving Education

Andrew Zuppardi

Road Safety Through Increased Driving Education

I believe that in order to prevent accidents on the road, a greater emphasis needs to be made on strong drivers ed across the entire life of drivers on the road. Generally, you just need to pass 1 written test and 1 road test when you are a teenager, and then you are not required to have any more practice unless you get into an accident. Strong driving education may be the most critical factor to preventing road accidents, as drivers with more experience will remain calm when dangerous situations on the road occur because they know how to act. I believe that driving on the roads would be a lot safer if everyone was required to retake a road test every 5 years, or if everyone was at least required to take a defensive driving class before they received their license. Right now, many insurance companies offer discounts to customers that successfully complete defensive driving courses. One of the first steps towards decreasing driver deaths should be expanding these programs so that driver’s can significantly reduce their insurance costs by proving that they have taken classes to become safer drivers. Most parents would force their teens to take extra defensive driving classes if it could significantly lower their premiums

Fortunately, I have never been in a car accident myself, but I know from watching the news how tragically common driving accidents are. I plan on becoming a safer driver by taking extra defensive driving classes after I get my drivers license in order to protect myself and the other drivers on the road. I will also commit to not drinking and driving or texting while driving in order to be a responsible driver and to set a positive example for my friends. I will do my best to take enough supervised driving lessons until I feel enough confidence in order to drive safely on my own. I respect that being able to drive is an important privilege and a significant marker of my independence and adulthood, so I will do my best to honor that by being a courteous driver and taking the time to learn how to drive safely.