The Importance of Drivers Ed

In
America, teenage drivers hold the highest percentage of fatal motor
vehicle accidents nationwide. As a teenager, I have witnessed
teenagers driving both from the passenger seat and the driver’s
seat. Oftentimes I see friends and family members texting behind the
wheel. I have also been witness to other forms of distracted driving
that have oftentimes almost led to accidents. I personally choose to
separate my phone from my driving. I do this because I normally have
people in the car with me and it’s my responsibility to get them to
and from places safely.

Unlike
most of my friends, I attended a six-week drivers ed
program and have noticed major differences in my driving compared to
other’s through observation. I think I gained experience and
knowledge from my drivers ed course that you wouldn’t
hear outside of the classroom. In my drivers ed course, I
was able to learn and practice defensive driving skills and tactics
that I implement every time I get behind the wheel. When discussing
driving with my friends, most don’t know what defensive driving is
or how to become a defensive driver. I think if all teens were able
to learn the skills and tactics needed to become a defensive driver,
there would be fewer teen-related motor vehicle accidents and deaths.

Although
I practice defensive driving, I have had a few close calls myself.
Luckily, I have not been in a car accident yet and I hope that it
continues to stay that way. I have never been in a car accident
before in general but I have seen car accidents happen. From the car
accidents I’ve witnessed and almost gotten into, speed was always
an issue. One instance in particular where speed was an issue was a
close call that I had. I was going five miles an hour over the speed
limit and someone turned in front of me which almost turned into a
very bad accident. Granted the accident wouldn’t have been caused
on my account, I still could’ve done things on my end in an attempt
to lessen my chances.

As
someone who drives and will continue to drive, I think I need to
continue being a defensive driver and remain at a safe speed. Out of
all the things I have taken away from my drivers ed course
the last thing I heard my teacher say has stuck with me for two
years. She told us that we increase our chances of getting into an
accident when we increase our speed. She said, “ I have never
talked to anybody who’s gotten into an accident by going too slow.”

In
conclusion, I think defensive driving should be a skill every
teenager acquires before they begin driving. As I have been witness
to distracted driving, I believe it’s essential to reiterate just
how dangerous it is to drive while distracted. Lastly, I believe I
can improve my driving skills by watching my speed and continue to
practice good driving habits.