2020 Drivers ed Essay Contest Mariana Sanchez Baylor University Freshman [email protected] Drivers ed should be like any other education institution. It should be giving statistics, facts, and solutions to new drivers or drivers who are ordered to take a driving class. I believe that courses such as defensive driving and driver safety, that are part of drivers ed, reduce the number of deaths related to driving, by allowing drivers to improve their behind-the-wheel knowledge and skills. These courses provide an opportunity for drivers to learn the impacts of distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (illicit or prescriptions), fatigue driving, and driving at night, which are the leading causes for deaths in accidents. However, these problems have solutions so simple that everyone can do them. For example, if a driver gets easily distracted by their phone it’s wise to put that object somewhere it can’t be reached, so they aren’t tempted to answer a text or a call. Or if they happen to carry a passenger, they can help by taking the phone out of the driver’s hand while they are driving. When it comes to driving under the influence, I can only imagine being a problem when a person is out with friends or part of family reunions. However, I believe a fair solution is to come up with who’s going to be the sober driver or arrive and leave a destination using services such as taxis, Uber, and Lyft. After this, if necessary, allow the person or people under the influence to stay to sleep, anything that prevents them from going behind-the-wheel on the road. In my opinion, fatigue driving is the easiest because all it takes it’s a stop at a gas station and getting a cup of coffee. Or if coffee isn’t the driver’s favorite drink then why not give in to one of the body’s favorite hobbies… find a hotel and rest or sleep until the driver feels relaxed to get back on the road. Now driving at night, to me the solution is to stay at a hotel because not only do I not like the dark, but also the body’s nocturnal instinct to sleep kicks in. However, if money is the issue, I’ve seen rest stops for long trips and I would suggest driving slower than usual and with precaution. I’ve never been in an accident, but in my experience, it’s the adults who drive irresponsibly. I don’t know if it’s the experience that makes them think that they don’t need to use the blinker to switch lanes or the fact that they haven’t been caught under the influence doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous or that they aren’t going to be caught someday. Which is why I point out to them what they are doing wrong, even if their reply is “oh, nothing happened” or “sorry, I forgot”. I always offer to take people home if they’ve been drinking at my parent’s house because I don’t drink alcohol, so it’s easy for me to be the sober driver.