The Importance of Safe Driving Education for Youth and How to Incorporate It Into Society

The funny thing about education is that once you learn something, you are accountable to that information. You cannot unlearn it. Ignorance may be said to be bliss, but education can both improve quality of life and save lives. This is certainly the case with driving and driver education: once you learn what is responsible behavior behind the wheel—and how to react to the irresponsible behavior of drivers around you—you cannot go back and act as if you do not know it. You are responsible to act upon it and incorporate safe driving techniques into your everyday commute; both your own life and the lives of the drivers around you depend on it. Just as you would not want a driver near you to drive recklessly and unsafely, you must apply the knowledge you have learned so that you provide a safe environment for those around you. Anyone previously affected by a car accident or afraid of having one in the future would appreciate it.

Safe and defensive driving education is particularly important for new, younger drivers. As young adults begin getting behind the wheel, extensive education on road laws and defensive driving maneuvers means saying goodbye to matchbox cars and taking responsibility for themselves and the lives of drivers around them. Education and its application are the methods by which the transition from childhood toy car races to getting from point A to point B as a new driver are possible. As youth learn the necessary skills to both operate the heavy machinery that are vehicles and abide by the laws of their state and nation, they can responsibly earn their government-approved certifications to drive.

In order to “drive” the weight and importance of these driving privileges and responsibilities home, safe driving tips could be more readily modeled in media that new drivers watch, from television shows to TikToks. Social media has become a powerful tool in promoting a narrative of “everyone is doing it”, from dating to beauty products to voting. Just as behavior education and modeling brought the issue of wearing a mask in the COVID-19 pandemic to a forefront of society to the point where it became normal, safe driving practices and tips can be made available and normal to today’s young drivers. This is not to suggest shame as a motivator for people to drive safely, but to make it a normal thing, and to remind people that we all have lives and loved ones that we do not want to lose, each as important to us as is the next person’s is to him.

The desire for safe drivers is something I believe everyone can relate with, whether or not you have been through an accident. No one wants to get hurt or lose a loved one! Throughout my childhood and adolescent years, I have personally been in a handful of small-scale accidents with my family members. These have thankfully only been incidents of side swipes or fender-benders where no one got hurt, although my dad was in an accident when I was about six years old that left him with residual knee damage. I have had several friends who have been very unfortunately affected by car accidents as well, from losing parents to losing one’s entire family at once. My awareness of the need for safe driving practices has been heightened from these experiences, making me sensitive to irresponsible behaviors of those I ride with.

For myself, I can improve my driving habits by preparing myself before I get on the road. Making sure I allot enough time to eat, get ready for the day, return any phone calls or text messages, and map my route will greatly diminish the temptation to split my focus once I am on the road. As a passenger, I can help do all of these things for an unprepared driver and be an additional set of eyes for him or her. I usually take on the role of copilot, secretary, GPS, and more when I am riding in the car as a passenger. I audibly give directions and help look for turns; I respond to text messages, look up the nearest gas stations and restaurants, and do basically everything except for drive. Additionally, as a passenger, I serve as a second set of eyes looking out for potholes in the road, deer getting ready to jump out in front of the vehicle, and speed limit signs—although this is usually to the annoyance of the driver.