Doing My Part And You Should Too!

Semiyah Gullatte, High School Junior

Driver Education Initiative Award Scholarship

“What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number deaths as a result of driving? What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving? Have you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly? What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?”

Driver Education. Driving is something many people think they know the basics of because it is a simple action everyone does each day to simply get from point A to point B. You learn the basics of driving throughout one’s life. For example, stopping at a red light or respecting who has the right of way at a four-way stop. Drivers have been educated on the specifics of how to properly execute those tasks in controlling a vehicle whether during driver’s education classes or while studying for their driving exam. Everyone thinks that they are doing a driving task right until someone else comes and does it differently. Personally, I am guilty of this. I was unaware that when your body moves backwards in a vehicle, that tells you the vehicle has completely stopped; this is what I mean by specifics.

In my opinion, you never realize you do not know how to do something if you have never been taught and/or tried. In my personal experience with driving, I did not know I struggled with parallel parking until I was faced with the challenge of doing it. Before I attempted to parallel park, I educated myself on beginner skills of ways to effectively parallel park. The importance for me to get educated on parallel parking, was so that if I have to do that task again, I will be able to execute it properly and safely while not putting myself or anyone else in danger.

Reducing Car Related Deaths. Driving is more dangerous and deadly for our nation than being involved in combat. The very most important and first step that should be taken when driving to reduce the number of car related deaths, is wearing your seat belt; it is just that simple. Seat belts play a very important role when you are driving a vehicle. Sources from the CDC.gov website (link below) report that “Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% percent and cut the risk of serious injury by 50% percent (“Policy Impact: Seat Belts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Jan. 2011).” It is safe to say that seatbelts are superheroes! It should be common practice that when you get in the car, the first safety measure one should take, is to ensure everyone in the car puts their seatbelts on. Once seatbelts are fastened, other safety measures should include (but are not limited to): adjusting one’s seat, checking all mirrors, turning on all headlights, setting the temperature, radio, and GPS, and making sure all cellphones are put away. Additionally, it is important to ensure that your vehicle is always maintenance and up to par.

Another step to reduce car related deaths, is to be very cautious on the road. Driving can be so easy to people that it can become relaxing. When we relax, we do not tend to be very aware or alert of our surroundings. With driving, your concern is not only what is going on in your lane, but what is going on in another driver’s lane as well. Looking left, right, front, and back will ensure that everyone is being safe on the road. Despite all of that, you should always be going the appropriate speed limit. It is very important to not be reckless on the road. Always be attentive! Something simple as taking a quick glance at your neighbor’s pool, could lead to a head-on collision if you are not attentive enough on the road.

One last, yet very important step to reduce car related deaths, is to NEVER drive under the influence. One may think that because they only consumed a minimal amount of alcohol or drugs, that they are fine. Most people are not aware of the legal alcohol limit. If you are unaware of the limit, then you are unaware if you are going over it. In the United States, “Approximately 29 people die every single day due to motor vehicle accidents with an alcohol impaired driver (“Drunk Driving.” NHTSA, 4 Mar. 2021, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving).”

Personal Experience. Thankfully I have not had an experience where I was in a car accident, but I have witnessed a family member nearly lose their life because they were driving with a medical complication (seizures). My older cousin would experience seizures randomly. He was later diagnosed with a severe case of epilepsy. The doctors advised him not to drive due to this medical diagnosis, but he ignored the doctor’s advice. One day while driving, he experienced a seizure behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. This resulted in him crashing his vehicle, he was nearly inches from losing his life from driving irresponsibly.

A Safer Driver. The steps I can take to become a safer driver, is to always be cautious and attentive; this is just a commonly known rule while driving. I am a firm believer in practice makes close to perfect. With that said, one must continually practice safe driving. As you continue to drive every single day, you are adding to your driving experience and becoming better and better at driving. How I drive, will teach my passengers how to effectively drive. Helping others embrace safe driving habits, is to constantly inform them about road safety and the specifics they might be unaware of. Now that I am properly educated as it relates to basic skills while driving, I am able to protect myself and others who share the road with me; preventive measure are in place to reduce the number of car related deaths. I am doing my part and you should too!