Name: Jemila Macauley
From: Indian Head, MD
Votes: 0
In
the Driver’s Seat Scholarship Essay
Driving has made the lives of
many more convenient. It provides a means of transportation and often
saves time. Without driving, society would be very different from
what we know it. However, with this added convenience comes risk. I
have been in a car accident before and luckily no one was hurt.
Unfortunately, for thousands of people this isn’t the case. Many
people have been in a car accident or know of someone who has and in
extreme circumstances they know of a death that has resulted from
one. Driving can be very dangerous as it requires a person’s full
attention. Distracted and impaired driving can result in injuries and
even death which is why it is important to take the necessary steps
to be a safe driver.
I’m sure we’ve all heard
that texting while driving is dangerous and that we shouldn’t do
it. Using a phone while driving, whether you’re calling or texting,
is dangerous and it shouldn’t be practiced. However, it is
important to know being on your phone isn’t the only type of
distracted driving. Although it seems like being engaged in a
conversation is not dangerous it is still considered a form of
distracted driving because you lose your focus from the road. People
feel as though they can multitask while they drive, but driving
divides your attention between the road, your surroundings, and
controlling your vehicle. To make driving safer, this information
should be reiterated to drivers, and passengers in a vehicle should
take on the extra responsibility and speak up when they feel a driver
is being unsafe.
As a new driver myself, I’ve
gone through a drivers ed course and taken a driver’s
test. Although drivers ed is required in Maryland, it isn’t
required throughout the country. This means some people aren’t
getting an adequate education before beginning to drive, thus putting
the lives of themselves and others in danger. In order to make
driving safer and reduce the number of accidents and deaths, I
believe all drivers ed programs should be nationally
accredited so that laws are universal across the country. Driving
instructors should also be held to higher standards—only those
qualified should be able to teach a drivers ed class. These
instructors should be focused on ensuring that future drivers
understand the importance of safety and the responsibility they bear
when operating a motor vehicle. They should ensure learning drivers
are as prepared as possible to pass their driver’s test and become
a safe driver. If they feel otherwise, instructors should be required
to take the time to work more closely with teaching drivers to help
perfect their skills.
