Driving skills are not only important in life, they are important to life.
A small error in judgment can cause a wreck or fatality, especially if speed and inexperience are factors.
East Peoria students learned some valuable lessons Saturday afternoon through the Driving Skills for Life program.
The new program is definitely worthwhile. It teaches students things they may not learn in driver’s education, such as how to make quick decisions on the road and how to plan ahead for curves.
Tazewell County deputy sheriff Chuck Linton said these skills are not taught in driver’s education.
Any extra driving experience beyond driver’s education is invaluable.
Linton said 60 percent of teen crashes are caused by speed or space management and hazard recognition/vehicle handling issues, so it is logical and understandable why the Driving Skills for Life program targets teens.
However, if funds were available, it would not hurt for the program to include adults and seniors as well.
Driving skills should be a lifelong lesson that does not end once behind the wheel is over.
While teens need these lessons drastically because they are inexperienced, adults need them because they may forget them over time, become complacent or overconfident in their driving skills, or may never have learned these skills in the first place.
If a person is not taught how to do something better, they will do it the only way they know how, which may not be the best way.
East Peoria, Ill. —
