Driver’s Ed Scholarship

Fifteen is a special year for most teenagers because it is when you attend driver’s education and earn your permit. Driver education is very important. Anyone can sit behind the wheel of a car, but without knowing all the rules, the meanings of signs on the road, and driver edicate, you should not be driving. Those signs, rules, and driver etiquette are what keep the driver, passenger, and other drivers safe. I believe that driving is a privilege, not a right, and if you are going to be driving, you need to be a safe driver. After taking driver’s education, you have all the tools in your belt to be a good driver. Driver’s education can even go farther in some programs, and teach you how to drive with trained professionals. This can be better than being taught by a parent because you see yourself as more of a student, rather than a child that needs to listen and obey their parents. This means, there won’t be any arguments, which may make you a better learner. Once you learn how to not only drive, but be a safe driver, the statistics of you getting in an accident drastically decrease.

There are many steps that you can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Most importantly, the driver (solo) should have a valid license, almost sixteen does not count. In addition, a driver should be 100% sober. One beer can still impair your central nervous system, which will slow down your reactions when driving. The same goes for drugs too. Even prescriptions warn a patient to know how the medicine affects them before they operate heavy machinery like a car. Being well rested is also important when driving. Studies show that lack of sleep is just as dangerous as driving intoxicated. There are plenty of rest stops along the highway system and they are not just for truckers. It is important to take a break from driving if you feel like you are dozing off. When you are well rested, your mind is sharp and you are less likely to get distracted while driving. It is important to know what kind of driver you are. Limit your distractions as much as you can, especially when you are a new driver. If you are someone who is easily distracted by music, turn it off or, at least turn the volume down. Last but no least, know and obey traffic laws. Speed limits are not a suggestion, they are implemented to ensure everyone’s safety. Traffic laws also include using your blinker. Blinkers are not an indicator so you know which way the car will be turning, it is for the drivers around you.

I have not personally been in a car accident, but there have been a couple instances where I was surprised no one was hurt due to one of my friends driving irresponsibly. It’s not because she was intoxicated, or meant to drive recklessly, she’s just not great at being aware of her surroundings. There was one time, where we were about to miss our turn, and instead of making a U-turn farther down the road, she slammed on the break. Mind you, this was a pretty busy street so we were lucky that there were not any cars behind us. Not to be rude, but sometimes I wonder how she passed her test because it’s careless acts like this that can cause an accident that has the potential of being fatal. My sister is also not the best driver. I’m sure she has gotten better by now, but as a teenager she was not a nice driver. None of it was extremely reckless, she was just a selfish driver. She was the person most people don’t like to drive around because they weave in and out of cars. She thought her time was more valuable than other drivers so she would speed and pass any car that she could. When my dad was teaching me how to drive, he said “don’t be a rude driver like your sister. Everyone on the road has somewhere to go. The only reason you should pass someone is if you don’t feel safe driving behind them.”

As a driver, I always try my best to be respectful of everyone on the road. It would not be a bad idea for me to take a refresher course on being a safe driver. It’s not that I am a reckless driver, I just believe there may be some small things I have forgotten that can help me become a better driver. I believe that if enough people are safe drivers, others will follow as a sort of crowd effect. Safe driving starts with me. If I am a competent driver, then I am equipped with the knowledge and procedures to follow when other drivers are being reckless.