Driver Education Initiative Scholarship Essay

Driver education is one of the most important things to me, because I recently learned about the severity of driving-related deaths. Driver education can help to significantly decrease the number of deaths as a result of driving, which is currently at 34,000 per year. Education is very important because many drivers are unaware of how frequent these deaths are, and how important it is to prevent them. If we educate these drivers on the gravity of these deaths, and how to drive safely to prevent them, these numbers will likely decrease.

It is important to know the steps you can take to decrease the number of deaths related to driving. The first and arguably most important rule is to never get behind the wheel while under the influence. Teens and new drivers should not be taking part in drugs or alcohol under any circumstance, but if it does occur, be sure not to drive. Another important rule is to make sure the driver and all passengers have their seatbelts on before starting the car. Accidents will occur whether or not you have your seatbelt on, but they instantly become much more fatal without a seatbelt. Finally, never try to multitask while behind the wheel. No matter how quick you think you will be, texting and driving is never a good idea. In mere seconds you can be speeding, swerving, or running a red light and you would not even notice until it is too late.

It is also important to enforce these rules even when you are not the one driving. If you see a friend or family member doing something that is not safe, do not be afraid to call them out and correct their behavior. For example, I have seen many of my family members neglect to wear a seatbelt, and I never used to say anything. Now that I have my own license and have learned about the importance of driver safety, I will be sure to correct them. I have also seen my friends using their phones while behind the wheel. Even before I could drive, I knew this was wrong, and would always ask them to stop or offer to help. An easy way to get people to stop using their phone while driving is by asking them if you could do whatever they are doing. Sometimes people do not like to ask for help with texting, writing emails, or picking a song to play, but if you offer to help then they are likely to say yes.

In conclusion, it is both the driver’s and the passengers’ responsibility to follow safe driving procedures and to hold their friends and family accountable. Driving is one of the highest causes of death in the country, and it is our job to decrease that number. I am thankful for this scholarship opportunity because it taught me a lot of things I did not know about deaths as a result of driving, and hopefully I can use this to educate other young drivers as well. Driver education is very important for me so I am very glad many other drivers like me will learn through applying for this scholarship.