Jerson’s life was not lost in vain

Carlos Lovato

Drivers safety education is one of the most essential topics that we should be teaching in schools and at community centers for free. I was not fortunate enough to ever take drivers ed because my parents make minimum wage and they were not able to afford it. Drivers ed can provide an individual with the confidence and knowledge on how to properly operate a motor vehicle and how to react during any challenges that they might face while driving. Drivers ed strengthens one’s confidence when it comes to driving and after meeting the drivers’ ed curriculum you are more than ready to drive on your own. The number one step that should be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is making sure that we simply teach everyone from a young age that responsible driving is a public service to everyone’s safety. If we start promoting driving safety as early as middle school it will teach the youth that we should always be as responsible as we can while driving. Parents play a huge role in how their kids will be once they grow up. If a parent is constantly texting and driving or driving under the influence, then the child witnessing this is more likely to reflect those same actions as their parents. The DMV should require drivers ed for everyone. The DMV should also require that anyone who is renewing their license must take the written exam again. I have personally been heavily affected because of the decision of one reckless driver. I lost a role model to a reckless driver who was under the influence of alcohol. Jerson was the older brother I never had and a very close friend to my entire family. I moved to the US at the age of 6 and school was not very easy. Aside from being bullied and teased because I could not speak English and for being undocumented I had to deal with Jerson having his life taken from him one Saturday night because he was walking home at night and a man thought him getting home under the influence was more important than persons life. I was only 10 when this happened and Jerson was 25. Since then I knew that whenever  grew up and I started driving I cannot do the same as that man did. Whether it is texting and driving or driving under the influence I know that these are actions I will never have the courage to commit. I picture every pedestrian as Jerson, my older brother, and I know I can never risk someone else’s life for a text message, an Instagram notification, or because I chose not to pay for a twenty-dollar taxi. Anytime I am a passenger I also make sure that the driver of the vehicle abides by the same rules as I do while driving.