The Drivers ed Initiative Award Kayley Bakke

The importance of
drivers ed in reducing the number of deaths as a result of
driving, the bottom line is to educate. Drivers ed is the
how-to, the dos and the don’ts of being a responsible driver. Every
day I see young people and people older than my parents driving and
texting and although the younger generations contribute to most of
the problems, distractive driving is a pandemic of all generations
young and old.

Many steps can be
taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. I believe to
have the biggest impact on change is to break the mold and start with
the up and coming drivers. Drivers ed should start earlier in
junior high and continue through graduation. The actual driving, of
course, would not start until one is of age, but classroom education
should begin earlier because knowledge is power! The classes should
be a mandatory one-semester class each year and classroom simulations
should take place for hands-on learning.

Technology will
forever be a way of life and therefore, step two would be to take
full advantage of technology in a good way. I think that we have too
many rights when it comes to safety and I feel like safety always
should be the way of life. We should not have the choice of whether
our phone goes into driver mode, it should automatically default into
driver mode as soon as you start the car. As for the passengers,
there are many beautiful things outside your windows, or the phone
should be able to tell if you are the driver or not.

I have never had the experience of being in a car accident, but I
have lost friends due to distractive driving. Recently, I lost one of
my sweetest friends, she was killed in a head-on crash because the
driver in the other car was texting and she crossed over the line.
One of the most devastating memories I have ever had was seeing a
friend recovering from a horrific accident and again from distractive
driving, unfortunately, the driver of her car ran the stop sign.
Although she will physically and mentally never be the same, she is
alive, and it is nothing but a miracle.

The steps I can
take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become
safer on the road is to be an example and do what is right and what
is safe always. Driving is a privilege and a responsibility and
sometimes it is hard to understand why people do certain things
whether it is ego, maturity level, or complacency it all comes down
to making an educated decision. People should not be afraid or feel
uncomfortable telling a friend or a family member that it is not ok
to text and drive because our lives depend upon it.

Safety Always,

Kayley Bakke