2023 Drivers Ed Essay Contest

Driving is a necessity to most Americans these days, whether driving to work, school, sports, or anywhere you need to go. When people drive so frequently, it’s easy to overlook how dangerous driving thousands-of-pounds machines at high speeds really is. Each time you sit in that driver’s seat you’re putting your own life at risk and the lives of others. It’s a serious matter that frankly isn’t given enough attention or thought. Over a hundred people are losing their lives a day because of car crashes. America is in need of more responsible drivers.

One way of reducing the number of deaths is driver education. This is the first step for anybody getting their license and was the first step for those who have their license. Drivers education is to be taken seriously, whether in an in person class or online class, people need to learn how to properly drive and understand the consequences of improper reckless driving and distracted driving. Driver’s education does a great job in showing the fundamentals about how to properly maneuver a car, how to understand driving concepts, read signs, and how to be safe when driving. I remember taking driver’s education and seeing the horrifying videos of teens who are driving with a cell phone in hand, not paying any attention and then the next instant they’re hit by a car. They’re scary videos that we hope never happens to us, but it happens very frequently to people everyday. Scare tactics is a great strategy used by driver’s education to keep new drivers from being distracted while driving, but is it enough?

Driver’s education can only do so much to teach people how to drive and how to be responsible while doing it. But there comes a time when the drivers are given the keys to the car to drive all by themselves. I remember my first time driving after only driving with my parents. There are two main feelings I remember feeling: one was a sense of freedom. I could finally go where I want without my parents taking me and picking me up! But the other feeling was fear. Was I ready to drive by myself? What if I crash? Or my car breaks down? I don’t know if other people feel that way when they first get behind the wheel by themselves, but I certainly did. This feeling of fear led me to stay focused on the road, drive slow, and be extra cautious. Having fear of crashing led me to make good driving decisions. But inevitably we become comfortable behind the wheel. We don’t think we need to go the speed limit, we don’t think we need to obey every single road sign, and we don’t think it’s a big deal to take our attention off the road for a second to check a text message. It is through comfortability that driving becomes dangerous. So what steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving? I believe the number one best step we can take is developing the right attitude about driving. That attitude should be that driving is a risk, and isn’t something that should be taken lightly, your life and other people’s lives are literally in your hands. When this attitude is instilled in people it subconsciously makes people better drivers, they’ll drive more safely, and be undistracted. This kind of driving is what would save lives.

While I personally have never been involved in a car accident I know many people who have been. Car crashes can lead to grieving families, permanent injuries, and financial burdens.

Just last year my dad was driving down a road and a car pulled out of a neighborhood in front of him. It totaled my dads car, the guy that pulled out in front of my dad was just a teen. If the kid had been more cautious and patient the whole accident could have been avoided. Luckily neither of them were very injured after the crash. Two years ago, a student at my school was killed in a car crash. He drove off a winding road into a tree, there was another student in the car with him who went to the hospital in critical condition. It was a very heavy few weeks on everybody at school. This student was most likely intoxicated and distracted. Parents should never let their child drive under that kind of influence, but also the teen should know and understand the risk of driving, especially with another human in the car with them. My dad also has a friend who was hit by a car in his early twenties. He has been paralyzed and wheelchair bound his whole life since then, he can’t even speak. It’s sad to think how if the man driving the car had been paying more attention my dad’s friend would’ve been able to live a normal healthy life.

There are many steps I can take in my own life to be a better and safer driver. One big one is to put my phone completely away. Nothing on my phone is as important as my life or the life of others. Another step is to drive slowly, it’s not worth speeding to get anywhere even if I’m a little late, my life is worth more than being somewhere on time. Steps I can take to help other drivers be safer on the road is to remind those who are leaving somewhere to be safe and put their phone away. Another step is to never rush anyone, that could give them the feeling that they need to get somewhere quickly which could influence them to make reckless decisions. If I’m in the car with someone and I see them making unsafe decisions or being distracted I can remind them to stay focused on the road. I can also reassure them that we aren’t in a rush so they make more patient and disciplined decisions on the road.

Pushing these principles onto all driver’s today could save many lives. If enough of us understand the consequences of reckless distracted driving, and tell people about our experiences and how it can negatively impact their lives and others, America will begin to become a safer country to drive in.