Driving Safely Is Important

Emily Lynn Arroyo

Driver Education Scholarship

Driver education is critically important for yourself and others. Driver education isn’t a waste of time, but something everybody who is licensed should take a little more seriously. Texting and driving are not something to play with, especially when it is a habit done daily. I take driving very seriously, and many others should too. Drinking under the influence, whether on drugs, alcohol, or even just tired from the day, is extremely dangerous. You’ve heard of deathly DUI stories, or on drugs, or even just falling asleep behind the wheel. It’s a scary moment and thought, and some people are lucky enough to still be alive, for example, my father. My father was heading home around eight o’clock one night after work and dropped off one of his colleagues’ home as a favor. As my dad was waiting to get on the highway to head home, he saw headlights coming straight at him from the back. He froze; he knew what was happening as he was innocently waiting for his turn to make the right onto the highway. A lady in a Jeep Wrangler rear-ended my father’s car slamming him into another car that was in front of him. Once she realized what she had done, she tried to leave the scene, but my dad was smart enough to misguide her away from the vehicle so he can take the keys out of the ignition. The lady had glassy eyes, was unaware of where she was, what she was doing, and why she couldn’t drive away. She couldn’t walk straight and didn’t know how to control her body movements. It was scary hearing this story because all my dad came home with was a torn shoulder muscle and some back pain. My dad made it out alive luckily when he could’ve easily died from that lady’s negligence. Now you may be asking, but what happened to her? She served eighteen months in jail for DUI, and my dad won the case against her and was able to come home well and healthy. My dad, to this day, complains about his shoulder because he technically needs surgery on it. As a veteran, he knows the procedure and how much therapy he needs since he tore his left shoulder, in the Army during a PT test. He chooses to deal with the pain and to continue working to support the family and me. I am extremely grateful to hug my father still and feel his touch. I am thankful to see his smile and hear his laugh. I couldn’t imagine hearing the officers telling my family my father didn’t make it. Unfortunately, many cases do end up with deaths, and that’s why I am telling you this story. Driver safety isn’t only for your own good but for the good of the people around you. Many families can’t see their loved ones ever again due to people’s negligence. I believe that wearing our seatbelt, putting the phone down, drinking responsibly, and driving responsibly can all go a long way. Remember in your hearts that when you drive, you put yourself at risk and other people. I would hate to say I killed someone while driving because I decided to text my friend back while driving. It is not safe and needs to be brought to awareness countless times for so many people.