Stop Truck, Stop!

Driver Education Initiative Award Scholarship

“What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number deaths as a result of driving? What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving? Have you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly? What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?”

According to local studies, the number one cause of deaths from driving, is distracted driving in people ages 15 to 20. Knowing this is important, because being educated on what is causing these deaths can spread awareness to people who often drive distracted. The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving would include: helping people understand healthy driving habits and keeping full attention to the road. These are all important because it can help save lives. During my Driver’s Education class, we learn the importance of safe driving by knowing what not to do when driving. This includes: not getting on your phone, playing around with other people in the car, and taking your eyes off the road. As teenagers and young adults, our lives revolve around social media and connecting with friends and family on our cellphones. Being distracted by social media while driving happens more often than we think. Most of us know the consequences of distracted driving, but do not think about it until it actually happens and/or someone gets seriously injured or loses their life.

There are unlimited steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Some of these steps include: educating young upcoming drivers on the importance of safe driving, practicing safety measures while on the road, driving with a trusted adult, consistently checking the speed limit, paying attention to road signs and knowing what they mean, wearing a seat belt, keeping a good distance between cars, staying off cellphones and devices that can be distracting, and paying full attention to surroundings. Another step would be, driving not only for yourself but for others which means being considerate. All of these steps can lessen the number of deaths related to driving. Even though not everyone follows these steps, it is still beneficial to know these steps and to educate yourself and others to decrease the number of deaths that come from the result of distracted driving.

When I was around the age of 12, my step-mom and I got into a car accident that involved four other cars. While driving on the highway, traffic slowly stopped. We saw a truck coming full speed and not stopping; there was nothing we could do. The truck did not stop in time and slammed into the back of us causing us to hit the people in front of us, then that car hitting the car in front of it, causing a chain reaction. The person who hit us was driving irresponsibly because he was on his cellphone, not paying attention to the road which caused the car accident. I was very happy nobody was seriously injured, but it could have been prevented if the driver was driving responsibly.

When I was younger, I had always felt that my dad was a little irresponsible when driving. My dad would constantly be on his cellphone while driving, whether it was checking Facebook, on the phone, or looking at things to buy on eBay. Since I have aged, I am able to voice and speak up on how I am feeling when he is on his cellphone while driving. He has taken what I say into consideration and ever since, he has been doing much better at paying more attention to the road instead of his cellphone. I believe that being able to verbally express my concerns to him, helped my dad to become more aware of the safety of other people while driving. I believe it is important to explain to someone who is a distracted driver, discomfort when riding with them to make them aware of how unsafe their driving is.

Some steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road, would involve me taking driving safety classes that can help educate me more on road safety. Taking time to watch short videos on rules of the road, showing friends and family what I have learned from these videos, being more observant of others, and being able to voice when I feel unsafe are all great measures to take to be a safer driver (and passenger). When I am not driving but in the car with other people, I still look out for other cars and observe my surroundings just in case I see something that the driver does not. In sum, you can never be too safe when it comes to safe driving and reducing the number of deaths caused by driving.