Becoming a Safer Driver

Josy Hill

Youth
Forward Scholarship Essay

25
February 2020

A
month from today, I will already be sixteen years old and hopefully
have my driver’s license. With that, I will be able to drive
anywhere I want independently. I will no longer have my parents in
the car with me to monitor my driving; everything is on me. While the
thought of being an independent driver exuberates me beyond the
measures, it also makes me feel timorous to some extent. Knowing the
fact that the leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults
is by car crashes also intimidates me. As I previously mentioned, I
will not have my parents in the car with me while driving
independently. Therefore, I will have to me more cautious than I
already have been. One small error can possibly lead to debacle. I
must continue to demonstrate carefulness at all times when it is my
time to be behind the wheel alone. Along with celebrating the
glorious day when I receive my driver’s license, I will also commit
to being safe on the road and reach out to my peers to inform them on
safe driving. By avoiding speeding, never driving while intoxicated,
and spreading the benefits of cautious driving to my peers, I will
strive to make myself and others better drivers.

Following
the traffic laws seems like a no-brainer. Everyone knows the basics
such as do not speed, do not run the red lights, and always yield to
traffic that has the right-of-way. However, it is common for even
some of the “good” or “experienced” drivers to botch on these
expectations. Most people will admit to driving “five over” or
maybe even “pulling out” in front of someone. Even I have done
those things a few times. I often drive slightly over the speed
limit. However, I do not need to exercise this habit too much.
Speeding is routine for many drivers, and most drivers regard it as
harmless. If speeding is harmless though, why are there speed limits?
Even though speed limits seem like a nuisance, they are in place for
the safety of drivers and passengers on the roads. In fact, a good
amount automobile accidents in recent years have been related to
speeding. According National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
roughly thirty percent of all fatal car crashes were linked to
speeding. Even though chances may be low, speeding may be a risk to
the drivers and passengers on the roadways. After reading this
harrowing statistic, I feel like I should shy away from speeding.
Therefore, I am going to improve my driving by avoiding speeding at
all costs.

As
many people already know, driving under the influence of alcohol is
something to avoid. Even just a slight amount of an alcoholic
beverage can affect someone’s ability to reason properly. Thus, it
is crucial for anyone who has consumed alcoholic beverages recently
to avoid driving. I am committing to never drive if I have consumed
alcohol no matter how old I am or how much driving experience I have
had. It is worth the lives of myself and others to not be behind the
wheel while intoxicated. Drunk driving is very hazardous, and the
statistics say it all. According to the Center for Disease Control
(CDC), twenty nine people die every day from motor vehicle crashes
related to driving under the influence of alcohol which is around one
death every fifty minutes. Because of that, I will promise to myself
to never drive while intoxicated.

Aside
from myself committing to safer driving, it is imperative to inform
my peers of how to be a safer driver. Many of my peers likely do not
know the dangers of things such as speeding and drunk driving.
Because of that, it is my duty to warn my peers of these dangers as
an attempt to prevent them from possibly being in a catastrophic
accident while driving. I will encourage my peers not to drive while
intoxicated and to try to stay within the speed limit. I also will
promote defensive and distraction-free driving to other soon-to-be
new independent drivers like me. For example, if I have friends in
the car with me, I will stay away from my cell phone like I always do
to promote “hands-free” driving. I will also warn my friends of
the dangers of other drivers and tell them to always be aware of what
the vehicles around them are doing in order to protect their lives.
Doing these actions will hopefully help educate my peers on how to be
safer drivers.

When
I receive my driver’s license I wish to strive towards cautious and
defensive driving like I have been with my learner’s permit. I do
not want to have any regrets when it comes to my driving habits, and
I certainly do not want to lose my life or become responsible for the
loss of other people’s lives. In addition, I will make strenuous
efforts to set a good example to my peers when it comes to driving as
well as educate my peers on certain driving issues. Therefore, I am
committed to becoming a better driver and to educating my peers on
how to become safe drivers. I will meet these goals my avoiding
speeding, never driving while intoxicated, and informing my peers on
how to be a safer driver.