The Long Drive

My Mom and I were driving past a high school. Most teenagers throw themselves into the road and anticipate you will stop before you hit them. Mom looked at me for a split second BAM! Seconds away from seriously injuring a kid who did not look both ways. I am not the first person to tell you that driving can be treacherous. Becoming a better driver can be easy if you have to take the time to study what it is like to be a good driver.

Just like any skill will not come naturally, you must be willing to apply effort. When you are sixteen and about to get your permit, you could consider attending a driving school. Driving schools have plenty of resources for new drivers. For example, lessons with an instructor. Instructors have experienced new drivers before, relieving the anxiety you may have with your parents. The cars they use are specially made to assist the inexperienced driver and are custom to an extra brake during an emergency. Driving schools also offer classes. Not only are those classes there to help you pass your permit or license test. But these classes can give you a lot of crucial information you should take to your day-to-day life. Taking notes while putting what you have learned into practice is a great way to improve your overall driving skills. Reddit users have answered the question Is driving school worth it? Most people replied by saying how much driving school has improved their driving. Many users argued that even if you spend a lot of money, you allow yourself to “drive in a safe space.” All this practice and having a place centered around driving can significantly improve your driving skills.

The Driving Book by Karen Gravelle has informative information for drivers. This book is an opportunity to have everything you need to know written down and kept for you. The Driving Book has branches on what to keep in your car, what to do in an emergency, and what to do in unfavorable weather conditions. Many take notes in class afterward and do not refer to them. In the book, she gives us information like how to use jumper cables, portable chargers, or change a tire. Even situations they do not touch on in driving school. For example: Dealing with someone else road rage or learning how to control your own. Not only does this book prepare you for what you should do when you finally have your license. It also helps when you are just starting to learn how to drive. For example, a nervous parent can cause a lot of anxiety. The author uses stories to give the best advice on comprehending each other. For example, parents can seem overbearing at times yet “are likely to recognize that anyone- especially new drivers can make mistakes” (153 Gravelle). As I began to read the book, I found many topics were things I recognized from driving school. Such as “Creating a space cushion” (93 Gravelle) or what my school called your six zones. Something I completely forgot about until I read the book. If you do not take the time to read this book word for word, it works perfectly to look back on when you are in a situation where you are not sure what to do. The first time my mom ran out of gas was at The Broncos practice arena. Security to come out to question us. I was tense, anticipating what would happen when emergency services were involved. Soon relieved, the man explained people were not allowed near the arena. He explained to security inside the establishment and helped us find a safe place to move the car. Karen Garvelle elucidates situations like this throughout her book, which keeps you prepared.

If improving your driving skills is something you want to do. Or maybe you are a parent trying to find the best way to teach a teen. Take the time to think about driving with an instructor. In my opinion, this has helped lower the anxiety I have with driving. To replicate that safety bubble while driving. Or you might want to be able to look after them when you cannot be in the car with them. In that case, get a book they need when you do not have all the answers. There are many additional methods to improve driving. The next time you get behind the wheel, think about what you have done or what your next step might be to keep you and the people around you safe.

Work Cited Page

Gravelle, Karen. The Driving Book: Everything New Drivers Need to Know but Don’t Know to Ask. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2009.

“—.” Reddit, www.reddit.com/r/driving/comments/7vrzj9/is_driving_school_worth_it.