A Few Seconds Can Change Everything
2026 Driver Education Round 2
Emma Borrego
fort lauderdale, Florida
Distracted and irresponsible driving affects more people than we realize, and it has impacted my life personally. Driving is something many people do every day without thinking about how much responsibility comes with it. When someone gets behind the wheel, they are responsible for their own safety, their passengers, and everyone else around them. This is why driver education is so important. It teaches people more than just how to operate a vehicle. It teaches drivers how to follow traffic laws, recognize dangerous situations, avoid distractions, and make responsible decisions. Having this knowledge can help prevent accidents and reduce the number of deaths caused by unsafe driving.
I learned how serious unsafe driving can be through experiences I will never forget. The first major accident I experienced happened in 2020 in Denver, Colorado, shortly before everything shut down because of COVID 19. The accident was not caused by us. Another driver was not paying attention, and their inattention caused our car to crash into a pole. Our car was totaled, and what had been a normal day suddenly became something my family would remember for years.
Thankfully, my three month old sister was completely unharmed, and I only had minor injuries. My mom, however, was hurt more seriously and needed medical attention. The accident affected her even after the immediate injuries began to heal. She experienced problems with her rib cage that caused her to stop breastfeeding my sister. Our family also had to go through a lawsuit that took years to settle because of the severity of what happened. Even though my sister and I were physically okay, I saw how one person's actions behind the wheel could affect an entire family.
Unfortunately, that was not my only experience with a serious car accident. In April 2024, during my sophomore year of high school, my parents picked me up after I took the SAT. We were going to get something to eat when a red truck began driving in the wrong lane. Everyone around us had to brake. The driver behind us did not slow down in time and hit our van from behind. Our van took the full impact. Thankfully, everyone was okay and no one was seriously injured. My grandfather did get glass in his eye, which was painful and scary. Once again, I saw how quickly something could happen on the road, even when my family was not the one driving irresponsibly.
Experiencing these accidents changed the way I think about driver education. Knowing how to make a car move, turn, and stop is not enough to make someone a safe driver. Drivers need to understand how to recognize hazards, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, follow speed limits, wear seat belts, and react when another driver makes an unexpected decision. They also need to understand the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. Driver education gives new drivers an opportunity to learn these lessons before they are placed in a situation where one poor decision could have serious consequences.
There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Drivers can put their phones away, avoid driving while impaired, wear seat belts, follow speed limits, and make sure they are alert enough to drive safely. People should also avoid changing music, checking notifications, or doing other things that take their attention away from the road. Schools and driver education programs can help by showing students realistic examples of what can happen when someone drives irresponsibly. Driving simulators and stories from people who have actually experienced accidents could make these lessons more personal for young drivers.
Parents can also help teach safer driving habits. Young drivers learn from the people around them, so parents should practice the same habits they expect from their children. Keeping a phone away, wearing a seat belt, following traffic laws, and staying calm behind the wheel can set a good example. Technology can also help. Features that silence notifications while someone is driving can remove some of the temptation to check a phone. Cars also have safety features that can warn drivers when they leave their lane or get too close to another vehicle. These features can help, but drivers still have to pay attention and make responsible choices.
My experiences have also forced me to look at my own driving habits. One distraction I have struggled with is music. Sometimes if my music disconnects or I want to change a song, I am tempted to reach over and fix it. It seems like something that only takes a few seconds, but I have learned that a few seconds can be enough for an accident to happen. After everything my family has experienced, I have become more aware of these small distractions. No song, text, notification, or phone call is worth risking my life or someone else's.
There are several things I can personally do to become a better driver. I can choose my music and enter my directions before I start driving so I do not have to mess with my phone. I can keep my phone somewhere that will not tempt me to check it. I can maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, follow speed limits, wear my seat belt, and constantly pay attention to what is happening around me. I can also help other people become safer drivers. If I am riding with someone who is using their phone or driving irresponsibly, I can speak up instead of ignoring it. I can also talk with my friends and family about what my family experienced and explain why I take safe driving seriously.
Being involved in two major accidents has changed how I view driving. Both situations showed me how quickly an ordinary day can turn into something frightening. My family was fortunate that everyone survived, but we still dealt with injuries, stress, medical problems, and the effects of those accidents afterward. Those experiences are something I continue to remember whenever I get behind the wheel.
Driver education can help prevent other families from having similar experiences. It gives drivers the knowledge they need to recognize dangerous behavior and make safer decisions. However, knowing the rules is only the beginning. Every driver has to make the decision to actually follow them. I cannot control what every other person does on the road, but I can control my own choices. I can stay focused, follow traffic laws, avoid distractions, and encourage the people around me to do the same. Driving safely means remembering that every person on the road has somewhere to go and someone who wants them to make it there safely.
I learned how serious unsafe driving can be through experiences I will never forget. The first major accident I experienced happened in 2020 in Denver, Colorado, shortly before everything shut down because of COVID 19. The accident was not caused by us. Another driver was not paying attention, and their inattention caused our car to crash into a pole. Our car was totaled, and what had been a normal day suddenly became something my family would remember for years.
Thankfully, my three month old sister was completely unharmed, and I only had minor injuries. My mom, however, was hurt more seriously and needed medical attention. The accident affected her even after the immediate injuries began to heal. She experienced problems with her rib cage that caused her to stop breastfeeding my sister. Our family also had to go through a lawsuit that took years to settle because of the severity of what happened. Even though my sister and I were physically okay, I saw how one person's actions behind the wheel could affect an entire family.
Unfortunately, that was not my only experience with a serious car accident. In April 2024, during my sophomore year of high school, my parents picked me up after I took the SAT. We were going to get something to eat when a red truck began driving in the wrong lane. Everyone around us had to brake. The driver behind us did not slow down in time and hit our van from behind. Our van took the full impact. Thankfully, everyone was okay and no one was seriously injured. My grandfather did get glass in his eye, which was painful and scary. Once again, I saw how quickly something could happen on the road, even when my family was not the one driving irresponsibly.
Experiencing these accidents changed the way I think about driver education. Knowing how to make a car move, turn, and stop is not enough to make someone a safe driver. Drivers need to understand how to recognize hazards, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, follow speed limits, wear seat belts, and react when another driver makes an unexpected decision. They also need to understand the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. Driver education gives new drivers an opportunity to learn these lessons before they are placed in a situation where one poor decision could have serious consequences.
There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Drivers can put their phones away, avoid driving while impaired, wear seat belts, follow speed limits, and make sure they are alert enough to drive safely. People should also avoid changing music, checking notifications, or doing other things that take their attention away from the road. Schools and driver education programs can help by showing students realistic examples of what can happen when someone drives irresponsibly. Driving simulators and stories from people who have actually experienced accidents could make these lessons more personal for young drivers.
Parents can also help teach safer driving habits. Young drivers learn from the people around them, so parents should practice the same habits they expect from their children. Keeping a phone away, wearing a seat belt, following traffic laws, and staying calm behind the wheel can set a good example. Technology can also help. Features that silence notifications while someone is driving can remove some of the temptation to check a phone. Cars also have safety features that can warn drivers when they leave their lane or get too close to another vehicle. These features can help, but drivers still have to pay attention and make responsible choices.
My experiences have also forced me to look at my own driving habits. One distraction I have struggled with is music. Sometimes if my music disconnects or I want to change a song, I am tempted to reach over and fix it. It seems like something that only takes a few seconds, but I have learned that a few seconds can be enough for an accident to happen. After everything my family has experienced, I have become more aware of these small distractions. No song, text, notification, or phone call is worth risking my life or someone else's.
There are several things I can personally do to become a better driver. I can choose my music and enter my directions before I start driving so I do not have to mess with my phone. I can keep my phone somewhere that will not tempt me to check it. I can maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, follow speed limits, wear my seat belt, and constantly pay attention to what is happening around me. I can also help other people become safer drivers. If I am riding with someone who is using their phone or driving irresponsibly, I can speak up instead of ignoring it. I can also talk with my friends and family about what my family experienced and explain why I take safe driving seriously.
Being involved in two major accidents has changed how I view driving. Both situations showed me how quickly an ordinary day can turn into something frightening. My family was fortunate that everyone survived, but we still dealt with injuries, stress, medical problems, and the effects of those accidents afterward. Those experiences are something I continue to remember whenever I get behind the wheel.
Driver education can help prevent other families from having similar experiences. It gives drivers the knowledge they need to recognize dangerous behavior and make safer decisions. However, knowing the rules is only the beginning. Every driver has to make the decision to actually follow them. I cannot control what every other person does on the road, but I can control my own choices. I can stay focused, follow traffic laws, avoid distractions, and encourage the people around me to do the same. Driving safely means remembering that every person on the road has somewhere to go and someone who wants them to make it there safely.
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