Importance of Driver’s Education for Safe Driving

Driving has become normalized in our culture. It has become a daily task for millions of people in the United States alone. However, most people forget just how dangerous driving can really be. Being in control of a thousand-pound vehicle barreling down roads at high speeds while watching the road for other drivers, pedestrians, wildlife, and other hazards. People Drive with all kinds of distractions and find it completely normal and tolerable. Likewise, not everyone on the road knows this or may not understand the extent of this significance fully.

Importantly, young drivers may not be aware of the risks of driving. For one, young drivers are more likely to make risker decisions when it comes to driving due to the lack of experience. Those who are not prepared correctly might make the wrong choices and put themselves and others in danger. Without proper warnings and risk assessment, new drivers may falsely believe that they could still drive while under the influence of alcohol or drive at high speeds thinking the worst that could happen is a speeding ticket. Mistakes in driving are going to happen, drivers might miss a turn or not see an important sign, and it is crucial that new drivers react in a calm, safe way before they end up in a bad situation or worse. Driver’s education can prepare student drivers for the dangers of the road and reduce fatal car crashes by giving new drivers the right preparation. 

To begin, human brains are not fully developed until age twenty-five, and the decision-making part of the brain is in major development from adolescence to early adulthood. Most states allow new drivers to start in their mid-teens, pointedly in that major development stage. Many states now are implementing a graduated system for new drivers allowing them to take driving in little steps to a full license instead of giving one with no restrictions out too early. In these systems, new drivers can start at 15 to 16 with several restrictions, and as they age, they get more and more of those restrictions lifted until they are old enough for a full license, usually at 18. Another important step for new drivers is to take a driver’s education course. Many insurance companies will have better rates for students who take these courses. Driver’s education will also prepare new drivers for the road to a greater degree than those that did not take a course. Also, having a certified teacher instructing new drivers gives a chance to drive in a safer environment. Many states also require a specific number of driving hours with a teacher if they are at an age where a driving course is required. 

Driver education sets guidelines for new drivers and gives them more confidence on the road. A quote from a study done by the University of Nebraska on driver’s education courses states, “Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75% more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16% more likely to have an accident.” Without driver’s education, the rate of fatal accidents increases drastically compared to those who took driver’s education. Driver’s education should be the first step new drivers take before they ever get behind the wheel of a car. 

 In 2019 from a report compiled by End Distracted Driving, 7% of all fatal crashes involved distracted driving. This percentage goes up even higher with younger drivers. Cell phone use in cars is the first thing people think of, but any task that takes the eyes or mind of the driver off the road can be considered distracted driving. Things like eating, looking at the scenery, playing with the radio, daydreaming, or talking to someone in the car, are all distractions that all drivers face and can be deadly in some circumstances. It is essential that drivers be aware of these distractions and try their hardest to avoid them. Drivers’ education can offer ways to help steer new drivers away from being preoccupied with major distractors. 

I have luckily only been in a few fender benders, but there is one that comes to mind. My family and I were driving on a main road, and the car in front of us stopped, everyone in the car got out of it and switched seats, got back in, and drove off as if nothing happened. As they stated to move again, someone behind our car rear-ended us and drove off. An odd sequence of events, but it was one of the worse cases of bad driving I have ever seen. No one was injured and there was no major damage to our car, but it really shows that some people do not take driving on busy roads seriously, and others do not pay attention to what is happing ahead. 

I recently got my full license, so now I am driving by myself, and I do not want to lose my new license. For one, I am not in the habit of using my phone, and I definitely do not want to change that just because I am driving alone. I keep my phone out of sight and out of mind and text when I am parked. Additionally, I tend to leave a bit more space between me and the car in front of me. I like to have more time to prepare for what is ahead, and it is better to stay farther away from the car directly in front of me. 

Another important step to creating safer drivers is to have open discussions with friends and family about safe driving practices. Discussing with them the danger of drunk driving and discourage those who have been drinking to keep out of the driver’s seat. For example, if friends are going out to drink, plan ahead for a designated driver or get an Uber. Another alternative could be more incentives to utilize public transit or carpool and get fewer cars on the roads.

 

Finally, driver’s education is a great starting point to get safer drivers on the road. It helps build an arsenal of skills that are needed for good, safe drivers. Driver’s education classes and better regulations for new drivers can drastically lower the rate of fatal car crashes, speeding tickets, and other driving offenses. Driving is a privilege not a right but with more drivers who are prepared for the responsibility of driving and its challenges can make the road a safer place to be.