A Life is worth more than a text.

A Life
is Worth More Than Your Text

First,
I would love to introduce myself, my
name is Anastasia
Ramirez and I will be starting my fifth and final year at Cal
Polytechnic State University Pomona. I am currently studying Graphic
Design with a double minor in marketing and studio arts. This
scholarship means a lot to me because safe driving and proper
drivers’ education is something that is very near and dear to my
heart and it can also further assist me with my studies.

In June of 2012 my mother’s
friend’s fiancé was involved in a traffic accident on the way to
big bear that cost him his life. The other driver was distracted on
their cell phone and unfortunately my mother’s fiancé was not
wearing a seatbelt at the time. The loss that this brought to our
family and friends was far greater than the text that was sent that
afternoon.

Drivers
Educations is of the upmost importance when it comes to reducing the
number of driving related deaths. Proper drivers’ education would
result in less accidents because drivers would be thoroughly educated
of the dangers and possible losses that come with driving
irresponsibly. Currently I live in California and the rule is that
you must be at least 15 ½ to get your drivers permit, this is a
great age to really start educating and instilling the importance of
safe driving habits. One of the important steps that can be taken to
reduce injury is by simply wearing your seat belt, it is essential
when it comes to your safety because it increases your chances of
survival in collisions if worn correctly. Educating the risks of
texting while driving is also one of the main steps I would love to
advocate for. People do not comprehend the risks that come with
distracted driving until they think about the life-threatening damage
they can cause upon others or the ones they love.

Something
that I would advocate for to those who find it hard to put down their
devices and want to become better and safer drivers, is to download
the app Drive
Safe & Save,
it is a safe driving app that encourages and supports safer driving
by monitoring your speed limit and alerting
you if you are going over the speed limit and by silencing incoming
text messages and calls. There is also an app called Call Me Out that
lets your family record audio messages for you that are read aloud
when your device detects that you are taking your eyes off the road.
In those moments a message from you mother, father, sibling, or
significant other could be enough to help you regain clarity and
focus of the dangers distracted driving could bring.

I
will always be an advocate for driver’s safety education and will
continue to educate the importance of seatbelt use and uninterrupted
driving, because my life, their life and your life, is worth more
than a text message.