Driver’s Education Beyond the Textbook

In 2019, there were on average seven teenagers killed in a vehicle accident every day (Teen Drivers: Get the Facts). This alarming fact bears a blatant message: current teenage drivers are underprepared for the challenges of the road, and the risks of the road underappreciated. Around the world there are over a billion vehicles that are driven in cities, across town, states, or even whole countries; driving is an integral part of life upon which many industries and daily life practices rely. What people do not realize, however, is that when someone takes a seat behind the wheel of a car, they are choosing to operate a machine weighing at least two tons, amongst other machines controlled by strangers. The practice of driving is one that has been simplified into getting into a vehicle, pressing one pedal to go and one to stop. The reality is that driving a vehicle is inherently more complex and can be quite violent if any number of things go wrong, with a driver accepting all risks of operating a vehicle any time they sit down and turn the key. Considering this, many states have implemented driving instruction for new drivers, with the goal of helping to educate new drivers on the proper practices of driving, in order to reduce the risks of being on the road and reduce the injuries and fatalities that occur every year.

Every state has their own requirements for a driver to be given a permit or license; in Indiana, for example, a new driver can receive a learner’s permit after passing the permit test at the age of fifteen if enrolled in a driver’s education program. Many of these new drivers have never been behind the wheel, and now must record a certain number of hours driving before they can receive their license. Many driver’s education programs include instructed drives, where new drivers have a chance to get time behind the wheel with an instructor. The unfortunate fact for teenage drivers is that this demographic makes up three times the number of fatal crashes than drivers aged 20 and above (Fatality Facts 2020: Teenagers). Even more concerning for young drivers is that 16-year-old drivers are almost twice as likely to crash than drivers aged 18 and 19 (Teen Drivers: Get the Facts). While these statistics are alarming for young drivers, taking a driver’s education course can help reduce the risk of crashing, and help new drivers be aware of the risks posed by vehicles in order to encourage being careful on the road. As new drivers participate in this course, they not only learn how to drive a car, but are provided a safe environment to practice and reinforce safe driving practices. These skills, learned by practice rather than memorization, provide a young driver the necessary tools to be a safe operator of a vehicle, helping them build a foundation for driving skills that may help reduce accidents or even deaths related to a young driver’s inexperience.

Resources such as driver’s education, however, are only as effective as a student’s willingness to pay attention, practice, and employ the skills learned in a driver’s education class, which may not always resonate with every student. One of the most imperative parts of teaching new drivers is helping illustrate the risks of driving and possible consequences in a manner beyond a textbook or presentation. These examples can be much more convincing because they feel “real”, beyond an image on a screen or a page, or a statistic written in a paragraph. For example, a few police departments own a demonstration device called “the Convincer”, which allows students to experience a simulated crash at five miles per hour. Every student’s turn on the Convincer ends the same: a sudden, unexpected jolt far greater than anticipated for a crash at such low speeds. What makes the Convincer so effective is that it allows students to visually and physically understand the importance of skills and rules learned in driver’s education, such as wearing a seatbelt. Many schools also organize convocations where students view a simulated accident scene, as volunteer first responders arrive on scene to treat actor “victims”. While this is a much more gruesome example, the idea remains the same that driving students can witness an experience firsthand, giving a much more authentic illustration of the possible risks imposed by driving.

Keeping roads safe is a responsibility that falls on the shoulders of every single driver, for themselves as well as for those drivers share the road with. Personally, I have been fortunate to have never been in a car accident, either while driving myself, or while riding with my family members or friends, but I do know many people that have been affected by negligence on the road. A former classmate of mine lost both of her older sisters after a vehicle they were riding in crashed into a telephone pole. None of the passengers were wearing seatbelts, and the two sisters died in the accident. Additionally, a former teacher of mine was killed in an interstate accident where a car crossed the median and struck the teacher’s car, causing a rollover crash at interstate speeds. Many people face tragic incidents like this daily, but every driver on the road can work to reduce or even eliminate these life-taking accidents by actively employing the skills taught in driver’s education courses. The lessons learned here may seem mundane or repetitive, but the goal of these lessons is to be taught by example, and not by experience. For example, when I drive, I make sure that all my passengers wear seatbelts, with a personal rule that I will not drive the car until everyone puts their seatbelt on. Additionally, I put forth additional effort to be aware of my surroundings by using my mirrors, checking my blind spots, and keeping a peripheral eye out for any upcoming hazards. Every driver should strive to continue to be a better and safer driver and I am no exception: I remind myself to check my speed, and to allow myself plenty of time for a trip so that I will not be in a hurry. Each driver has their own ways of ensuring their vehicle safety, but it is imperative that every driver ensure that he or she is accountable in keeping public roadways safe for everyone.

Driver’s education provides a foundational learning experience for young drivers to learn not only how to drive, but the risks of driving and the assumed responsibility for themselves and for others. These types of curriculums provide a way for students to gain firsthand experience driving a vehicle and gaining practice with an experienced driver trained to assist new drivers. However, a textbook example is not enough to humanize the impact that the consequences of driving may have, and therefore demonstrations or simulations are an excellent way of illustrating to students just how dangerous driving can be. These teaching methods are implemented not with the goal of frightening new students but reinforcing the importance of carefully following safe driving rules and etiquette. Each driver assumes their own responsibility for themselves (and for others) to understand the importance of the foundational skills taught by driver’s education instructors, with the goal of creating conscious, safe future drivers.

References

“Fatality Facts 2020: Teenagers.” Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, May 2022, https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers.

“Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Oct. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html.