According to QuoteWizard, Altoona holds the title of having the worst drivers in Pennsylvania. Out of all Altoonian drivers, people under 20 are the most dangerous compared to every other age group, and they are almost three times more likely to cause an accident than drivers in their 30s. With these statistics, people are rightfully deeming teenage drivers in Altoona as unsafe and irresponsible.
In order to fix this crucial problem, schools need to mandate driver’s education courses for all students.
Transportation in the U.S. is heavily based on roads and highways. While public transport does exist, it isn’t as resourceful here than it would be in a bigger city such as New York or Chicago. These cities have a much larger access to subways, public bicycles and buses, while Altoona lacks most of these–or does not have the same infrastructure. Instead, driving is the primary way people get around. This makes the ability to drive a necessary skill to have. Without the skill, people aren’t able to fulfill simple tasks such as getting to work or getting groceries. It limits the opportunities a person has and how they accomplish tasks. Because of this, driver’s education is a vital addition to any person’s life. Mandating the course in high school allows people to learn at a younger age and retain the information that’s needed to be a safer and more responsible driver.
Some students don’t receive the proper guidance or support they need for driving. Their parents may not have their licenses, the time or the patience that is needed to teach a teenager how to drive. Other options like older siblings or grandparents may also not be available, so these students have additional disadvantages that come with learning to drive. Driver’s education can help students fix this issue to a certain extent. Students will at least have the resources to learn about laws and rules regulating the road. It would give them a basic understanding of the starting process that is needed to drive, and taking the course will also open up the opportunity to take driving lessons.
Driver’s education courses can also help with safety on the road. In driver’s education, students are presented with statistics that showcase the dangers of driving. According to the CDC, 2,800 teeangers were killed and 227,000 were injured due to motor vehicle crashes in 2020. Teenage drivers most at risk are males, newly licensed drivers and drivers with other teens or young adults in the car. Being introduced to this information in a class can help students understand the dangers of driving and why they must act responsibly behind the wheel.
While some people may see a mandated driver’s education course as a waste of time, they don’t seem to consider all of the positives that come with taking the course. According to a study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, drivers who have not taken a driver’s education course are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in an accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident. Having the requirement for students to take drivers education will help people both with their own safety and other drivers’ safety. While it may take up half a semester, it overall helps students to drive more safely on the road.
With the dangers associated with teen drivers, the implementation of driver’s education courses are a necessary addition to students’ curriculum. Not only does it help educate students, but it also keeps students aware and safe of the decisions they make on the road.
