Driver Education Initiative Scholarship

My name is Ezekiel Sarmiento-Labiano, an incoming undergraduate freshman, going to attend Hawaii community College, and pursuing a degree in Architectural Engineering. The importance of driver education in reducing deaths from driving is significant, luckily I had a conversation about this with my mother, and I was able to hear what was going on during her time as a teenager and getting a driver’s license. She opened up telling me that before getting a license was like taking the permit now, so it was easy to just drive around before. But that caused many deaths as many teenagers were daring and dangerous, as they were under the influence of drugs like alcohol causing many deaths from driving. Fast forwarding to now, driver’s education has taken a big part in reducing decisions like that, and influencing the decision making of drivers. With my experience of driver’s education, you become aware of how it looks while under the influence of drugs, safety measures against dangerous and tight situations, learning about the road laws, what’s allowed and what isn’t, few pointers, things you need to know about the car for example understeer, oversteer, and tire pressure. As well as the quickest and safest route to your destination, being aware of signs and their meaning for example orange, diamond shaped signs or black and white rectangular signs. This is just the few things that driver’s education teaches to keep drivers, especially the new ones safe.

The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths by driving, is first decision making, decision making plays a large part in driving, for example being aware of sudden braking, knowing when to initiate a turn, blinker, or speed. Especially when you are at a party, you must make a wise decision of not being under the influence to drive safely home. Second, take yourself and others on the road into account, while driving you aren’t alone, and a mistake from you or another driver can in the worst case, lead to death. Third, be aware of your surroundings, some people fight or argue in the car, become caught up in the music or head, or not paying attention to driving causing them to doze off, have hands off the steering wheel, not being aware that they’re speeding up. Fourth, take driver’s education, driver’s education will be able to teach you things such as optimal tire pressure, hydroplaning, and pre-checking around your car to ensure no collisions with other cars or objects. Another step would be to be willing to learn, like those who are constantly drinking, or under the influence, and for them wanting to learn how to be safer. Being safe for you and others takes top priority while driving.

While I was in the second grade I did get into an accident, I was young, and I healed well from it, it was said that the driver tried to run a red light at the intersection causing us to get clipped in the front, everyone made it out safely and any wounds healed. I haven’t had a friend or family member under the influence, because they know the risks of driving and being under the influence, every driver has taken in the safety of him or herself and us in the car as well as those sharing the road with them.

The steps I can take would be asking experienced drivers for any tips or pointers on my driving. From experience alone you are able to learn a variety of different answers and experiences to help you while driving. Also practice, the reason being is if you don’t get on the road you won’t learn what you are lacking, things like parking, braking, turning, things like that need practice. I would also learn up on the car as well what’s allowed on the road to be safe for yourself, your group, and/or others driving. To help others, I would like to share about my experience with driver’s education and how it helped me become aware of what you wouldn’t know if you didn’t take that course. Telling others about driver’s education will let the younger ones become more aware of the car itself and the potential ability of each young driver. The sooner the better to keep themselves and others safe. As well as share my personal experience of being on the road due to how each area has a different experience and flow during certain days and hours, knowing this will also raise their awareness. Keeping drivers and their party safe is what should be on every drivers mind.