Driver Education Scholarship

The Ways of Safe Roads

Driving has always been a big part of my life. My dad and grandpa have been truck drivers for FedEx Freight for as long as I can remember, and they have always stressed safe driving to me and my siblings. I just recently got my license last year. I studied as hard as I could and took Driver’s Ed. super seriously because I knew that one wrong move out on that road could affect my life and the lives of others in just an instant. I have seen it, I have felt it– the impact of car crashes is something that no one should experience. That is why Driver’s Education is so important; learning to drive is a privilege, and you should never take it lightly. Just being safe on the road can reduce the deaths from car crashes immensely.

There are many ways to be safe on the road and reduce the deaths related to car crashes. One of the huge ones is doing Driver’s Education. I had the privilege of taking Driver’s education online, you would think that this took my focus away from the key point, but in all honesty, it made me focus more. I went at my own pace and tried to read and take in all of the information. I wanted to be safe, so when people got into my car, they could trust me. I wanted my dad and grandpa to be proud of me when I drove. Driver’s education has had a huge impact on my driving. I would not be a 16-year-old girl with nothing on her record if I had not taken it seriously, like many of the people in my school. Another way to help is to practice; practice in parking lots, driveways, and alleys. Take your parents out and ask them questions. Ask them anything and everything. No question is stupid. Me and my sister were out till ten at our school parking lot with my dad practicing and asking everything we could.

Being around a driving family, you are going to see the best and the worst. Before I was born, my dad got into a really bad trucking accident. He fell asleep in the truck because he was so tired from taking care of my big sister the night before; my dad had broken his hip, had to get metal staples in his arm to put it together, and had been in a wheelchair for around 8 months. This put a big strain on my family, with less income coming in and my mom having to take care of the kids mostly alone. It really was a stresser on my family. Since then, we have come back stronger than ever; my dad is now about the 6th-ranked driver in the Dayton area! He has proven everyone wrong and has advocated for safe driving ever since. My brother Gabe also got into a car accident about 6 years ago. He was in high school and driving home from work. He lost control of the steering wheel and rammed into a huge telephone pole. My brother was not wearing a seatbelt and crashed in the middle of nowhere. Some say he was ejected from the door and found a few feet from his car; luckily, a house nearby heard the crash and got to my brother as quickly as they could. My brother was concise but hazy from what just happened. I remember being on the couch with my best friend when my mom came in crying and told me my brother was in the hospital because he ran into a telephone pole. I thought it was nothing; I thought the telephone was super small, and it just left a scratch. It turns out my brother had strained his neck, his teeth went up into his mouth, and his body was really beaten up. I had to see my brother in a neck brace for weeks, watch him eat slowly, and gain the strength to get up again. These alone made me want to do better, to make sure I was a safe driver.

Being a safe driver comes at no cost; being a safe driver is being a kind human. I think being able to say I do not put people’s lives in danger when I get into my car is something every person should be required to say. I plan to continue my education on safe driving with books, the advice of people around me, and all the practice I can get. I will forever advocate for safe driving because you do not want to be the reason someone’s family member does not get back home. Life is fragile, but it also continues to push you to be fearless. I am not by any means saying you can’t be, but what you can do is pick and choose. Being fearless and taking risks while driving on the road with millions of people surrounding you should not and will not be accepted around me. Be kind and drive safely. Thank you.