The Relationship Between Drivers Ed and Safe Driving

Driving is a huge responsibility. You cannot drive as if you are in a ride at Six Flags. Not only are you responsible for your own life, but you are also responsible for the lives of other people. Your actions behind the wheel play a huge role in keeping everybody safe, including your property, the car. That being said, there are multiple things that can orient a driver into being the best driver possible on the road. A major thing that impacts teen drivers today is the kind of influence they receive from their peers on the road–friends that encourage drinking makes for a tragedy to occur. However, this risk can be minimized greatly if emerging drivers take driver education courses.

Driver education courses are imperative. According to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, the majority of drivers who do not take a driver’s education course are prone to getting into a car accident that severely injures or kills themselves or someone else. The majority are also prone to getting a traffic ticket. It is evident that the courses more than anything else keep you and others safe when they introduce you to the basic skills (and the reason they are important) you need as a driver–defensive driving, braking early, yielding. These are all skills that will not be learned well with a parent. Parents want to always protect their kids, but driver education teaches you that you will not always be with your parents. It enforces responsibility when driving so that a new driver will not lack judgment on their own in driving, which will increase bad decision making that could end up costing a life on the road. Driver education gives you a preview of what you will encounter when driving through practice, which helps drivers know how to respond accordingly. Overall, the more educated people there are on the road, the more everyone can come together to drive responsibly and therefore decrease the number of people being hit every day by distracted drivers.

Although they keep you safe, driver courses are not the only thing that will decrease the number of deaths as a result of driving. There also needs to be easily drivable streets and stricter driving license requirements. Intersections such as one in South Shore, a neighborhood located on the East side of Chicago, which has over 10 lanes and multiple signs, can increase the number of crashes as drivers are confused on where to look to turn. To solve this issue, the maximum number of lanes at an intersection should be two to travel opposite directions. That way drivers do not have many options of lanes, second-guess, mistake lanes for others, and run into other cars or people. Secondly, stricter license requirements will lessen the amount of reckless drivers. More requirements, background checks, as well as a mental evaluation will reveal people’s intentions on the road and test if they are really capable of making good decisions. Altogether, these will keep both pedestrians and other drivers safe, reducing casualties.

These adjustments are crucial as the amount of crashes that occur yearly not only cause property damage, but they also traumatize people hit in an accident, particularly those not at-fault. In December 2022, I was in a car accident that sucked out all of the excitement I had for driving as a new driver. As I was turning right, a lady turned with me at the same time and sideswiped me so hard I saw metal flying. I had to follow her so she stopped. She then had an attitude like she was going to hit me when I asked for her insurance, which she did not have. Now, I am always paranoid when driving; I always question who is going to hit me, when, where, how, why, and it always puts me at the verge of tears when I drive by where I was hit. The accident caused nights of sleep deprivation and emotional distress on top of property damage.

From the situation above, there is one thing that I learned to be a better and safer driver. That is to always, always drive defensively. Not that I did not do it before, but I did not truly understand the importance of that before. One should always drive like another driver nearby will make a mistake and crash into you. It can be worrisome, but if you really know what to expect, then you can react on time. Deeply analyzing your surroundings, even if you are already driving slowly and carefully, can greatly help–you can already be following the law, but all it takes is someone’s recklessness to take your life. I think what would help increase this kind of judgment is going out more and really exposing myself to all the different scenarios one might encounter on the road similar to the practice I did when I was applying for my license. This is so that I can learn more about potential pedestrian and driver mistakes so I know what else to expect while driving other than someone crashing into me.

Coming together to help each other as drivers when you can is also an important role in safer driving. I know that I can always advise other drivers to get off their phones while driving or keep the music down when I see them getting distracted. Phones can be very distracting, but with a gentle reminder, little things such as these are very important to minimize distractions on the road so that drivers concentrate on driving. Another thing is that in the case that I am with someone else driving, I can be their second pair of eyes to alert them of anything they may not see ahead on the road.

All things considered, driving is surely frightening and risky at times, however, with the proper orientation, experience, and judgment, you can certainly be a safe and successful driver who is ready to respond to any situation on the road.