The Importance of Driver’s Education

The Importance of Driver’s Education

Before getting behind the wheel of a car it is important to learn the rules of the road. As a passenger you can see what to do at a stop sign but until you are behind the wheel you do not realize how many decisions you need to make when driving a car. During my driver’s education course we were required to complete 30 hours of class time to learn all of the rules and requirements before we could even get behind the wheel of a vehicle. In order to be a responsible driver it is necessary to learn about what you may encounter on the road in various conditions now that you will be in the driver’s seat. Driving responsibly will allow you to get to your destination safely.

Distracted driving is a very serious problem in today’s society. Talking or texting on your phone can distract you from what is happening on the road. Many people have lost their lives because they were distracted with their phone or even worse, they injured or killed someone else because of their carelessness. There are apps that you can install on your phone that will prevent you from using your phone while driving. There are also apps that indicate the speed you are driving that your parents can access so that they are aware if you are speeding. Speed is a huge cause of accidents especially among new drivers. Obeying the rules of the road and following the speed limit will help reduce the number of accidents on the road.

I have personally been in two car accidents. One accident I was a passenger and a car that was in the left lane next to us decided to take a right-hand turn in front of us. The driver was only 17 and had been driving less than a year. She said she didn’t realize we were next to her and that she thought the lane was closed due to utility workers nearby. Fortunately, my sister who was driving and I were not injured but our car was totaled, and the other driver had to pay for the damages. I still get nervous when I drive on that road. The second accident happened while I was driving, and an elderly gentleman pulled out from a side road and collided into my car. He indicated he was distracted by the snow glare but in addition to hitting me he also almost hit another car that was driving in the other direction. I read that drivers age 70 and older have higher fatal crash rates per mile traveled than middle-aged drivers.

Teens have a higher rate of accidents and this has a lot to do with their inexperience. I have seen teens in my town drive irresponsibly and even worse they post videos of this dangerous driving on social media. One driver had two other teens hanging out the window while he was driving. This is not safe, and they are just lucky he did not have to stop short because they could have been seriously injured or even killed. Other teens have been hit and had their car flipped over and were fortunate that they were able to walk away from the accident because they were all wearing their seat belts. It is true when they say that seat belts save lives. It is important to wear them even if you are sitting in the back seat of a car. Drinking and driving is another problem and young people are more at risk for being in an accident due to drinking and driving. People that are going to drink need to have a designated driver. I think ride share apps have decreased the number of people that drink and drive because it is easier to get to and from home using a ride share app than ever before.

The steps I can take to be a better and safer driver include being an alert driver and reducing distractions while driving. I do not use my phone to talk or text while driving. Paying attention to the road and other drivers around you while driving and looking ahead and keeping a safe distance between you and the car in front of you is essential. I also make sure everyone is wearing their seat belt and I do not have more people than the number of seat belts in my car. I realize that not only am I responsible for my life but also the other people in my car as well as on the road and if we all take driving seriously, we can arrive at our destination safely.

Stefanie Feher