Poor Quality of Drivers Education - Essay Example

Running head: DRIVERS EDUCATION Poor Quality of Driver's Education You're Driver's Education s are given to prepare young people for driving motor vehicles later in their years when they become more mature and of course, responsible. However, this research will verify what has been on the minds of many in recent years. The course of driver's education is not meeting the requirements necessary to properly teach these young people. The facts are obvious as there are more motor vehicle accidents occurring due to the irresponsible behavior of teenagers than other drivers on the road. However, this can not be wholly blamed on young people but rather on the driver education courses that are suppose to be effectively teaching them how to drive safely and responsibly. The conclusion of this research will summarize the main facts and bring the clear point that there needs to be more effective measures put into place in these driving courses which will better prepare young people out on the road and lower the motor vehicle fatalities that occur among young drivers on a yearly basis. Poor Quality of Driver's Education Introduction In recent years the quality of driver's education courses for those in high-school have been coming under increasing levels of scrutiny due to the numerous fatalities that have been occurring among young people on rural roads and open highways. Due to the obvious problems with past performances of young drivers, following graduating from a driver's education course, requirements have been changing rapidly in this educational area in order to try and promote more responsible driving habits and increased awareness of how dangerous motor vehicles actually can be (Eisner 2002). For instance, if teens were taught about the specifics of driving and allowed to practice enough in driver's educational programs then perhaps they would gain a better comprehension on what all it entails instead of bits and pieces added in where the instructor feels it is necessary. The most important aspects of driver's educational courses for teenagers should cover even the minutest areas such as impatience while driving, what to do in an emergency, communication strategies, road rage, drunk driving, and many other fundamental points in order to try and minimize car accidents in this age group. There is no doubt that learning is a never ending process. Therefore, building up to gradual independent driving privileges, through improved driver's education classes is what it appears it is going to take to safeguard the wellbeing of more teenage drivers before they have full privileges on the road. Teenage Drivers and the Existing Concerns Common knowledge tells any competent individual that operating a motor vehicle brings with it a tremendous amount of responsibility onto the person in behind the wheel. This is because out on the road there are many lives at stake, the claim is that a number of teenagers are not mature enough or responsible enough for driving any type of motorized vehicle (Albanese 2002). The teen driver is risking his life when he brings a vehicle on the road without being confident of his driving skills or without having prior experience. It has been noticed that while most of us think that driving accidents are connected with alcohol consumption, the statistics reveals that most accidents by teenagers are caused due to immaturity and lack of experience. "Driving an automobile requires making skilled and well-timed decisions several times a second. Such decisions are based on prior knowledge and driving experience" (Bondurant 2004). However, teenagers lack this knowledge, which is the number one cause of road accidents involving a teen driver. For this reason, it is proposed that driving age should be increased from 16 to 18 in order to allow drivers to appear on the road only after they have had some kind of mature experience on the road and are capable of making timely decision in a critical situation. While many have failed to understand how a 16 year old could suddenly turn into a mature driver by 18, the statistics reveal that 16 years old drivers are at least 38 more likely to over-speed, make a wrong decision, and be involved in an accident than a 17 year old which says a great deal about the difference one year can make to one's level of maturity. The reason our government fails to understand the gravity of the situation with regard to teen drivers and car accidents, emerges from its inability to crosscheck the causes of teen accidents. It has been widely believed that most accidents are caused by drunk driving which has led to laws against alcohol consumption while and immediately before driving. However while it is certainly true that drunk driving causes accidents, that is not the sole cause of more than 3,000 crashes a year involving teen drivers. Most accidents are caused by poor judgment, which is the result of teen drivers coming behind the wheel without any real road sense, and without the confidence required for making mature decisions in tough situations. Another important factor in teen accidents is ostentatious spirit of competition. Teen drivers regularly over speed either to show off their cars, their driving skills or just for fun. Sadly they do not realize the amount of risk involved in speeding. Surprisingly, most teen drivers involved in fatal crashes are sober. Most such crashes are simply the result of poor judgment caused by inexperience and immaturity. Driver error, such as driving too fast, overcorrecting and running off the road, are commonplace factors. Because teen-age drivers are less likely to wear seat belts, the consequences of their crashes are often more severe (Snyder 2005). Evidently, driver's educational courses do not provide enough instruction in these areas that have been mentioned. It is believed that if perhaps they did then the incident rate of teen car crashes and fatalities would begin to decline. Also, as was stated, it is also felt that if more restrictions were put in place to allow for more improved education to continue in drivers' education then this would reduce the statistics of teenage car accidents as well. The Developing Ways to Minimize Teenage Driving Fatalities As is being clearly shown, automobile accidents is one of the most common and deadliest ways for teenage fatalities to occur. It seems that there are more and more accidents occurring that involve a young teenage driver every year. Furthermore, statistic evidence defines that drivers in the category of the ages of 16-19 are four times more likely to get into a bad car accident than someone older than this. This is where the heavy concerns lie because as was stated it appears that the teenagers immaturity, lack of experience, lack of knowledge, and irrational plus reckless behavior patterns in behind the wheel is creating to much of an adversity for other drivers on the highway (Snyder 2005). Driving safely is not something that can be learned in one semester of high school as many teenagers believe. This is why the system is lacking so badly. It takes years to develop and hone correct driving skills and make them become habits. Even those drivers who are older are still learning new strategies to avoid tragic car accidents and even then they still occur. So the main question is what is the government to do about it Well, as the idea was briefly brought up, the best and most logical way is to impose restrictions that will not allow teenagers to be able to get a full fledged drivers license directly following graduation a driver's course. They should be gradually eased into such a responsibility in order to be better prepared and learn the skills necessary to prevent accidents. Though this might not be favorable for teenagers, in their minds, it is what is best and it is currently being carried out in specific states in the U.S. The driving laws that are becoming popular in Oregon are now being presumed to soon take place in other states as well. Many feel that the state of Oregon has made a great difference in the driving regulations for young people and in this regard is making a drastic change so that many young lives can be saved. Other states have to follow suit and do the same, if for anything then for the best interest of the younger generation and to safeguard their lives on the road (Insurance Journal 2006). What has been instated and is still being improved upon are graduated driver's licensing laws in order to control the ongoing progression of new drivers on the road. Teenagers have to go through restricted phases of driving before they can ever get a full unrestricted driver's license so that they can gain experience that is necessary to drive safely in many high-risk situations, and so that they can enhance upon their own skills that are being developed. This is being proven to save lives; there is no doubt about it (Insurance Journal 2006). In North Carolina alone, where this law has initiated as well, the fatalities involved teenage car accidents has dropped considerably already, down 27% which is a remarkable improvement. Even in Michigan, another state that decided to implement this law has shown obvious positivism from it with their fatalities involving teenagers being down 25%. So it can be seen that it is making a drastic difference in the lives of many people. This is something that driver's education has needed for a long time and therefore it is realized as an idea that has been a long time in the making as well. Conclusion This research has clearly pointed out what needs to take place in driver's education courses. This in-depth literature has also defined the main reasons why the system has been being criticized in more recent years and why teens must be made to wait before they are allowed to drive alone. We must instill a sense of responsibility in teen drivers so they would see the wisdom behind waiting before getting a driving license. This is considered to be the most logical means possible to reduce car crashes among teen drivers and to encourage them to learn more and enhance upon the necessary skills they need when operating a motor vehicle. Annotated Bibliography Albanese, Jeanne. (2002). Putting the Brakes on Accidents. Syracuse: The Post Standard. There is a heavy issue of importance in this article concerning what should be done to prevent so many teenage car accidents from taking place. Albanese points out that education is extremely important. This isn't necessarily about education from a handbook either, but actual experiences in behind the wheel are detrimental for a teenager. This is meant for them to gain the necessary skills they need in order to know how to control their behavior while driving and how to react in an emergency. Reading alone does not solve this type of problem. This is why Albanese discusses many ways in which to try and minimize teen fatalities from occurring on the highways and rural roads throughout many states and Cities. She discusses responsibility and maturity and clearly explains that the majority of teens are not ready to drive a vehicle and it is one of the reasons that they end up in accidents in the first year following the acquiring of their driver's licenses. Bondurant, Bob. (2002). Teen Driving. Retrieved Online 8 August, 2006 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.autoshop-online.com/cchtml/com.involve.teen.html Bondurant discusses how many teenagers are very irresponsible in their young and growing years. The points he makes are very clear and precise. Teenagers are not ready to drive motor vehicles at 16, 17, and even 18 years of age. He states that just like with alcohol consumption, driving privileges should be limited and monitored at all times. This is at least until the teen feels confident and self assured enough to make the right decisions that are necessary while in behind the wheel of a car. When other lives are at stake there has to be a high level of maturity and again this article pinpoints the facts that teenagers haven't reached such a level of mentality in their early teens. In fact 21 should be the correct age requirement before a young person is ever allowed to have a wholly privileged driver's liscense. Eisner, Jane. (2002). Restrictions and Education Saving Lives of Teen Drivers. Knight Ridder Newspaper: Tribune News Service. This newspaper article, written by Jane Eisner focused on the many aspects that can lead to fatalities among teen drivers. Eisner discussed the need for improved educational activities to assist teenagers in gaining a more in-depth comprehension concerning issues of specific driving habits. For instance, talking on a phone while driving has been pinpointed as being one of the main causes for accidents on the road today. Also, talking with passengers while driving is another factor that causes many teens to not place appropriate attention on their driving and on the traffic around them. The article makes good and sufficient points in showing that the educational services for drivers education is sorely lacking in many areas. Insurance Journal. (2006). Study: 18 Million Americans May be Unfit for Roads. Retrieved 09 August, 2006 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2006/05/30/68940.html This website discusses the obvious facts that have been known for many years but are just recently becoming more and more pronounced. There are many people that are presumed to be safe and capable drivers and fit for driving on any road but lately this is being shown to be false. The main point is that if adult drivers who have been driving for many years can pose risks then teenagers certainly pose even more of a risk driving at such an early age. The in attentiveness that is paid to driving is one concrete cause for driving fatalities and teenagers are often preoccupied with school and other leisure activities, not paying full attention to the road and drivers around them either. They have to be educated and given time to learn these very necessary behaviors to correct their now existing patterns. This article definitely gives a great deal of information on the lack of correct driving skills teens really don't have and of which poses serious risks to other drivers on the highway and rural roads. Snyder, Marilyn. (2005). Teen Drivers with AD/HD: Realities and Risk Factors. Retrieved Online 9 August, 2006 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspr=855 Snyder's article talks not only about the immaturity of teenage drivers but also discusses how Teenagers with specific psychological disabilities such as AD/HD can be reckless, and lack control of their behavior in certain driving situations. She discusses ways in which driver's education classes can combat problems such as this by bringing about more logical discussion on safety precautions and what to expect on the road for those who have a more difficult time actually comprehended this. However, her article goes in depth in looking at how the main issues such as immaturity, inexperience, and young people's idea of how they perceive themselves to be invincible can complicate the learning strategies and educational processes that these course have established. The risk taking attitudes that teenager's project is one of the main adversities that instructors have to try and explain, to young people but it is something that absolutely can not be allowed to continue. The reason for this is so that they will become aware every action that they make in behind a well can have a consequence so perhaps by e embedding this type of concept in their minds it might persuade them from their wreckless behavior patterns. Read More