The importance of Drivers Education

Driver education is one of the most important parts of becoming a safe driver today.  Driving a car involves more than turning the steering wheel and pressing on the gas.  There are rules that have been created to keep all drivers safe. The best way to learn these rules is through a driver’s education course.  Driving is a skill that you will use every day of your life, unlike some math courses like calculus that we take in high school.  Drivers education prepares people to be responsible drivers and citizens.     Through driver’s education, we learn the rules of the road.   We learn not only how to operate a car, but what the lines on the road mean and how to understand some of the signs on the roads and highways. We learn what other drives expect from us so that everyone can drive safely on the road. Driver education teaches us to be defensive in our driving and warns students of the dangers we may face while on the road. 

Every year thousands of people die in car accidents. There are many reasons why car accidents and deaths happen. They happen when drivers are careless by being distracted and texting, eating, or trying to multitask while driving. Accidents happen when the driver is too tired and falls asleep at the wheel. Accidents happen when drivers do not correctly know how to drive in severe weather conditions and spin out of control.  Worst of all accidents happen when the driver is drunk or uses drugs.  There are several things we can do to reduce the number of deaths on the road and they all start with driver education.   Driver education gives the driver the knowledge they need to be smart behind the wheel. It teaches drivers what to do in emergency situations and how to handle the car.    These courses also educate the driver in the dangers of distracted driving and drunk driving.     With a good background in driver’s education drivers can reduce deaths on the road, by following what they learned in the course.   They should be alert, drive at a safe speed and avoid distractions.  They should keep their eyes on the road and not get overly distracted by buildings or things going on along the side of the road.   

I am one of the lucky ones.  When I was in middle school I was a passenger in my friend’s dad’s car.  We were driving on the freeway when his tire blew.   We were going fast in the left lane and the car swerved and scrapped against the guard rail. Thankfully my friend’s father is a good responsible driver.  He was able to maneuver the car away from the guard rail and stop safely.   We were all shook up and the car was totaled but, in the end we were all safe.    This incident was nerve racking and could have ended up very differently.  If he had been distracted or did not know how to properly stop the car we could have slammed into the cement guard rails faster and more violently than we did and we could have all been seriously injured or died.    This was the worst accident I have ever been in.  I have been in other situations where I have witnessed drivers swerving down the road, texting or speeding.   I try to stay away from these drivers so that I will not become a victim to their irresponsible driving practices.  

There are three main steps that I have taken to be a responsible driver, and reduce the risk of an accident. First, I minimize phone use, and I make sure not to drive if I am really tired and I keep my eyes alert on the road. Second I also make sure that my passengers are responsible and not too rowdy.  Lastly, I make sure the car is in good working order.  I check the tires, make sure the windows are clean and that there isn’t anything in the car that will obstruct my view. I drive within the proper speed and watch out for the other cars around me.  

While it is possible for someone to learn to drive without an official driver’s education course, I would not recommend it.   The driving course not only helps you pass the DMV test, it teaches the driver how to be a responsible driver and citizen.   Without a real driver’s education, the driver would be more likely to make careless mistakes and be a danger to himself or others.