I Use My Drivers ed Knowledge Daily: Here’s Why

When
I was 15, my cousin died in a car accident. I didn’t see him much
growing up, because he lived on the other side of the country. So
when we got a call a week after Thanksgiving, which was the first
time I had seen him in years, that he had passed away in a car
accident, it was really hard for me to hear. At this point in time, I
had my learner’s permit, and after everything that happened, I was
really afraid to drive.

I
believe that drivers ed is important because education is what
convinced me to try driving again. Despite support from family and
friends, fear consumed me and prevented me from getting behind the
wheel to learn to drive. I thought if I don’t have my license, I
won’t have to drive, and potentially hurt anyone I cared about.
When my permit was approaching the time when it would expire, my
parents signed me up for my driving lessons. I was terrified, but my
driving instructor took extra time with me to prepare me for driving
before I even got behind the wheel in the community center parking
lot. He talked with me a lot about the facts of driving, reminded me
that even though it would be scary, he could control the car at any
moment if something went wrong, and answered all of my questions,
even the silly ones I knew the answers to.

Driving
is oftentimes still a scary experience to me. But I regard that as a
good thing. A lot of people my age tend to think of driving as a
right rather than a privilege. And with that type of thinking comes
speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Good
drivers ed is important because not everyone should have to
undergo the hardships that I did to have a healthy respect for the
dangers and responsibilities of driving. Whenever I get behind the
wheel, I choose to promote responsible driving and make sure all of
my passengers do too. This includes keeping my phone out of sight
because it makes it easier to resist the temptations of texting and
driving, making sure everyone is using seatbelts properly, and
knowing the speed limits and common accident sites in my neighborhood
so I know when and where to use extra caution.

Some
might argue that your parents should be teaching you these things,
but no parent is perfect. Even if they had, I know 15-year-old me
would have rolled my eyes and said: “I know mom, speeding is bad.”
But it was my driving instructor who instilled those values in me and
his education and teaching methods keep me and my loved ones safe and
alive on the roads today when I’m behind the wheel.