The Driver Education Scholarship Essay

Driver Education Scholarship Essay

Driver education is the utmost important factor in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving; without driver education, the driver is not informed or aware on how to operate a vehicle. Driver education consists not only of using turn signals or knowing what to do at a four-way stop, it also consists of knowing how to control one’s emotions (road rage), drive at a safe distance, and drive under special conditions. Driving is much more than just knowing where to go and following the speed limit , it’s about knowing how to react when the unexpected happens.

As a measure to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, local Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) should set up a new driving exam, one that would actually test a driver’s ability to know what to do when the expected and unexpected occurs. Besides testing a driver on how to perform a three-point turn, u-turn, and park “without touching the cones,” this new exam should also expose the driver to other driving scenarios — driving under the rain/low visibility/night time, driving in a shared lane, and even knowing how to change a tire. Though there are clear limitations to this test (the test would take place on actual busy roads, not in a parking lot, and it would have to take place throughout the day or even the week so the driver is exposed to rain, low visibility, and night time), it would prepare the driver to know what it means to possess a driving license — knowing how to drive in all circumstances, thus reducing the amount of car accidents and deaths related to driving.

Though I have never had an experience of being in a car accident, I have witnessed both friends and family members drive irresponsibly. Changing lanes at the last minute to make an exit, disregarding stop signs, driving above the speed limit, and not using turn signals are some of the many instances where my friends/family members have driven in an irresponsible manner. Not only do the above actions risk the driver’s life, it also risks the passengers life (my life), and others’ lives (pedestrians, and other drivers). I have actually taken steps in order to help others become safer on the road. I partnered with a friend from my high school to set up our organization: Do It In The Back Seat. Our non-profit organization consists of spreading awareness on the need to wear seatbelts in the back seat of a vehicle, and obtain at least 10,000 signatures so the state of Florida may pass a legislation that would require all passengers in the back seat of a vehicle to wear their seatbelts. Though our mission is not centered on the driver, nor actions the driver may take in order to become a safer driver, our mission does impact and correlate with the number of deaths that result from driving.

Statistically, passengers in the rear are three times more likely to die in a car accident if they were not wearing a seatbelt, these unbelted back seat passengers also increase the risk of injury and even death to other passengers, including the driver, by 40%. This is why I work for Do It In The Back Seat — to help protect and save lives. As the head of social media, I play one of the most important roles in my organization, I create posts to draw attention, and spread awareness to this issue. I also coordinate with other organizations to attend events to promote our cause. Our most recent event was attending an International Coastal Cleanup at one of Miami’s most transited and polluted causeways (MacArthur Causeway) that leads towards Miami Beach. Here, we were able to speak about our organization and spread awareness to wearing seatbelts in the backseat — a form of driver education.

Steps I can take to become a safer driver would be to practice turning on the “Do Not Disturb” button on my phone before I begin driving, this will allow me to keep my eyes on the road and my hands on the steering wheel, not having my eyes readings text, or my hands scrolling on a screen. Other steps I can take to be a safer driver would be to keep the music at a low volume as I am driving. Though it is fun and even relaxing to play music while driving, it can be dangerous as it takes my mind off the driving environment, thus causing me (the driver) to not hear emergency vehicles’ alarms, or other cars honking. Finally, the last step I can take to become a safer driver would be to not eat/drink while driving. When I am driving, I should have both of my hands on the steering wheel, not one hand on the steering wheel and the other grabbing a water bottle, or a sandwich. Performing another activity while driving can prove disastrous to the driver as it can take one’s attention away from the road, or the steering wheel, which can cause the car to drift onto another lane and provoke a car accident.