Building Better Drivers: A Manual for Change

Thousands of people die from car accident-related deaths each year, with a vast majority of these being teenagers. Because of these statistics, Driver’s Education has become a big part of the licensure process in many of the states. Driver’s Education, or Driver’s Ed for short, teaches and reminds driving-aged teenagers of the rules of the road and the consequences if they do not abide by them. It goes over the basics of the car, driving regulations, and what to do when you land yourself in specific situations whilst driving. While these topics may seem simple and common knowledge to some, they may not be for many teens, thus preventing many unnecessary accidents in the process. Driver’s Education provides inexperienced drivers with all of the knowledge they would need to ensure that they are safe on the road, making it essential in decreasing the number of car-accident-related deaths.

Many of the states already require some form of Driver’s Education, usually involving both an in-class or online portion and a supervised driving portion. By requiring everyone to take them, more people would be knowledgeable about the aspects, and dangers, of driving. Also, by requiring the instructional portion to be only available in person, students are more likely to pay attention and absorb the information, instead of just clicking through and guessing as they would for an online course. Additionally, I feel that there should be more rigid rules for taking the driving portion of the licensing test. Many states will allow you to retake the test until you pass with a few periods of waiting in-between, but after the third failed attempt I feel that a driving course should be required before an additional test can be taken. This course would help the students properly learn the skills necessary to pass the driving exam, while also making them less of a risk to the rest of the people on the roads. By adding these features to the Driver’s Education course, less people would be putting themselves and others on the road at risk of car-related accidents.

Thankfully, I have had very few incidents as a new driver. There was a time that I was driving in a new area, and I had missed my turn because of my nerves. In my panic and hopes to fix the situation, I hastily turned into a narrow driveway that had shrubs growing all along the right side. I ended up scraping the entire right side of the car against the shrubs on the way both in and out of the driveway. While this would not be classified as a major accident, if there was more focus on staying calm and adapting to new situations, I likely could have avoided the situation. In relation to reckless driving, I was once pressured into going with a few of my coworkers in one of their cars to the grocery store. The first thing I noticed in the car was the number of items littered all over the place that could pose as potential distractions. Additionally, as we started driving, it was obvious that my coworker was very reckless and did not care much for the so-called “rules of the road.” She was vaping and messing around with her phone and the other person in the front seat while driving us somewhere that she did not even know the way to.  I have never feared for my safety and life before in someone else’s car, but this was a definite exception. Not only was this situation incredibly stressful for me as someone who did not want to come along, but also for me as a passenger whose safety was put in the hands of a reckless driver.

The phrase “practice makes perfect” works for various things in life, including driving. I feel that in the approximately two years that I have been driving, I have improved rapidly. I learned a lot about driving from practicing with my dad, studying several driving manuals, and paying attention and taking notes in my Driver’s Ed class. These are important steps that many people should take to improve their knowledge and experience of driving. The easiest, but somehow most complicated, first step to becoming a better driver is to obey all the traffic laws of the areas that you are driving in. It is important to encourage drivers to wear their seatbelts and ensure that their vehicle is in good running condition. Minimizing distraction in the vehicle is the next step to make certain that the driver is paying full attention to the road and their surroundings. The last step is most important for the new drivers and speedsters on the road. To make sure that you are not putting yourself and others at risk, monitor your speed and keep a good distance between you and the cars around you. These may seem like very simple steps, but it really is that simple to improve your skills as a driver. For those who are anxious about new places and situations, they may want to branch off and explore areas that they have never been before. All of these steps have contributed towards making me a better driver, and I feel that they would do the same for everyone else. In conclusion, Drivers Education and developing your individual driving skills would help to lower the overall risk of accidents among U.S. drivers.