Drive Cautious for Life is Precious: The Importance of Driver’s Ed

When the calendar hits a person’s 16^th birthday, most young people ultimately earn the privilege of driving and set out on the next phase of their life on the open road. Though life is a highway, and many want to ride it all night long, most do not understand the huge responsibility and learning curve that exists in the open road their steering. Because caution must be taught and life on the road is precious, the importance of Driver’s Education has never been greater in the history of our country. While some states require a permit phase, the completion of driver’s ed, and a certain number of hours behind the wheel, other states sadly do not. Driver’s education provides valuable content to young adults pursing driving, properly teaches about accidents and how to prevent them, and provides valuable advice on when not to drive. The value of driver’s education cannot be understated for it technically is one of the only classes that literally saves lives.

Driver’s education provides valuable information to young adults pursuing driving. Understanding the rules of the road decreases the amounts of accidents and keeps motorists safe. The confidence gained by the learning of these rules creates confident drivers, as the teachings of driver’s ed gives learners all the ins and outs of the road that could one day save lives. Understanding the meaning of road signs, road lines, four way stops, how to pass and other such rules is what separates a mediocre driver from a great one. Driver’s education classes also provide on road defensive driving tactics to ensure safety by teaching: frequently checking your mirrors, slowly backing out of parking spots, making sure turn signals are put on in correct timing, checking multiple directions at stoplights, the correct distance is kept between the cars around, and hundreds of other subtle items that should be learned in the classroom long before ever having to encounter in the street. Having an overall knowledge of the rules and regulations is what makes taking a driver’s education class so important. 

Most driving accidents happen when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or another substance. Driving under the influence, texting, actions of other passengers, changing the radio or car climate, or simply just daydreaming all result in a slow reaction time and demonstrate general unawareness of surroundings. Steps should be taken to prevent all these measures. In addition, time should be taken for the driver to buckle up and to make certain all the passengers follow that example. Always drive the speed limit, even when it seems silly, and be sure to check mirrors and the road lines to see if you can legally pass other cars if safe. Try to keep all distractions at a minimum. If listening to music while driving is a significant distraction the operation of the vehicle, turn it off. Making sure that all five senses are focused on the road is the most important thing, these are all steps that can be taken to become a better and safer driver.

I have unfortunately had the experience of being in a car accident and that is one moment in time that I wished I had back and never wish to experience again. An event occurred earlier that day that affected me in an extremely negative manner, not understanding the tremendous number of emotions I was feeling I decided to calm myself by going for a drive. I humbly admit that I deliberately disobeyed the teachers of my driver’s ed teacher for I knew better but was selfishly putting my emotions over the safety of the road. I hope the person reading this essay understands my admission of guilt and can sympathize the difficulty of placing that decision down onto paper. While driving, I was hysterically crying. I felt as if my heart was ripped out of my rib cage, stomped on, and left discarded on the side of the road to be trampled on by the next hitchhiker. The darkness of the night caused me to miss a stop sign as my vehicle collided with unsuspecting and innocent woman simply making a turn, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time all because of me. Nobody was hurt. Thankfully, nobody was hurt! Even though I was able to apply the breaks in such a manner to minimize damage to both vehicles, tires screeched, airbags went off, and the sound of a crash now echoes in both mine and her ears forever.

I pulled over and she pulled over as well and I got out of my truck and walked over to her car to see if she was okay. She was shaken and refused to talk to me, but she was okay. Soon enough, the police, firefighters and my parents came to the scene where they took down my information and asked me what happened. To teach me consequences have actions my parents correctly required me to pay for all damages not covered by insurance, and I am better today because of that decision. I learned a huge lesson. Even if not texting, listening to music or even drinking, driving while having intense emotions is not smart. It is just as dangerous because you do not have full control over your body. 

In addition to the number of steps explained in this essay to reduce driving deaths, it is individually important for all drivers to take the lessons learned from driver’s education seriously. I will not choose to ignore those steps again. Distracted driving is a very serious and dangerous thing that has killed so many innocent people over the years. The advice I take most seriously myself and would advise to others is besides being fully focused on your driving, be a defensive driver. My coach always states that defense wins championships and that rings true on the road as well. We should always be reading for the distracted drivers of the world to pull out in front, or not stop at red lights. Making sure the coast is clear before leaving an intersection or turning on to another road is crucial to being a safe driver. As simple as it sounds, it is easy to not pay attention to the roads and just go when the light turns green. The constant checking of mirrors and surroundings can save a life if a distracted driver runs a light, is driving too fast, or steers dangerously for any number of reasons. Overall, driving is a privilege and not a right, so we should treat it as such. So, whether someone is driving from Mozambique to those Memphis nights, the Khyber Pass to Vancouver’s lights, driving is a full-time responsibility when behind the wheel.