In the driver’s seat scholarship essay 2023

Unsafe driving causes more deaths in one to two years than in multiple past wars. I know from experience the consequences of dangerous, distracted, and impaired driving. Throughout my experience as a nurse, I’ve worked in several trauma intensive care units and have held the hands of patients who are dying from driving accidents. I’ve seen patients lose limbs, become paralyzed from the neck down, and lose family members as a result of reckless driving. I know what it is like to lose someone to a driving-related incident. My father was killed in a drunk driving accident when I was six months old. His decisions to drink and drive have haunted our family for decades. I have no memory of him and will never know the man who was loved by many. Safe driving saves lives and protects yourself and those around you, for we never know how much time we have left.

Educated drivers are safe drivers. Thousands of driving-related deaths could have been prevented if the drivers knew the importance of safety behind the wheel. Driver’s education must bridge the gap between the teenage expectation of freedom and everything it can take away. Operating a motor vehicle takes maturity, wisdom, and proper education. Rules are created and implemented for a reason. Many of these reasons to a young student can sound arbitrary. An effective driver’s education curriculum must leverage students’ ability to understand cause and effect. The cause is failure to abide by safe operating procedures and regulations. The effect results in loss of lives and tragedy.

Proper driver’s education is one of the most effective steps to reduce deaths from driving-related incidents. It is not enough for students to pass a class in driving. Young drivers must have many hours of driving experience with parents and proper adults. There is more to safe driving than material covered in a driver’s education class. The more experience a driver has, the safer they may be. The amount of exposure to different driving scenarios will make for a better, more aware, responsible driver. The addictive capacities of cell phones are constantly evolving, and driver’s education curriculum must keep up with these technological changes to abstain from cell phone use while driving. The local police departments should also be involved in young drivers’ educational experiences. The legal consequences of unsafe driving should be communicated without hiding the gruesome truth.

As previously stated, my father was killed in a drunk driving incident. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, graduated summa cum laude from college, was recently married to the woman of his dreams, a brand few fathers, and about to celebrate his twenty-sixth birthday. He decided to drive to one of the local, small-town bars for dinner and drinks with friends. My mother chose to stay home with me. He left her a note saying he loved her and would return later, only he never returned home. It was discovered that after a few drinks, he drove on the back roads with his friends. He missed a turn, hit a fence, was thrown from the car, and was killed instantly. Our family still hasn’t recovered, and I grew up learning about the ghost of a man that everyone grieved over for years to come.

After witnessing the emotions that followed the death of my father, I have determined that I will not let my mother lose both her husband and child. Safe driving is one of my most important values, as it has impacted me throughout my life. There is always room for growth and improvement, but I implement several safe driving tactics every time I step behind the wheel. Being twenty-four and of legal drinking age, I never step behind the wheel if I’ve had so much as a sip of alcohol. I also set my phone to do not disturb while driving and have it tucked away, out of reach, to prevent temptations. I always wear my seatbelt, even if I only travel less than a few blocks. I maintain awareness of everything around my vehicle, as I’m only as safe as the worst driver on the road. I observe others’ driving habits before approaching them with my vehicle. With these simple steps, I saved my family from experiencing another tragedy.

I’ve experienced the effects of reckless driving firsthand. Every year on the anniversary of my father’s death, I hear the sounds of my mother and grandmother sobbing as a result of his poor decisions. I would not wish what my family experienced on anyone. The most frustrating aspect of the situation is that it was entirely preventable. Young drivers need to be educated not only by books, teachers, driving instructors, and parents, but they need to hear realistic examples of what happens when poor driving leads to the death of a loved one. Thousands of lives could have been saved from auto-related deaths if proper education and choices were implemented. We must do better to save the lives of our youth while emphasizing the importance of being a safe and educated driver.