A Resourceful Weapon
2026 Driver Education Round 2
Lorna Khemchand
Salt Lake City, Utah
You come home from another day of work or school without batting an eye. You sit in your car taking a deep breath thinking about what tomorrow’s plans and agenda. But, what if there wasn’t a tomorrow? For others there sometimes isn’t. Because that individual never made it home due to a collision on the road.
Road safety is the most common issue when it comes to driving. We talk about the next new car that comes out, or dazzling our vehicles without really understanding our cars are a resourceful weapon. Although we hear on the news all the time about the latest accident people say “life happens” and move on like it’s inevitable, but in reality it is very preventable. Road safety involves the infrastructure, rules, and regulations to ensure safe driving that prevents accidents. But even with these in place, these rules are being broken and bent constantly.
For example, texting and driving is one of the most common ways drivers get into accidents. As amazing as a car can be, we have to understand it is a machine. And there are rules to operating heavy machinery one of those rules is constant focus at all times with little-to-no distractions. Distracted driving not only puts the driver at risk but others at risk as well. Making you a danger to everyone else on the road.
People die yearly due to distracted driving. As someone who’s worked in the hospital and in the emergency department specifically, one thing I can say is driving with no regard for others has only manifested itself in taking the lives of innocent adults and children. Breaking apart families. Driving with negligence has only proven itself to make another person become a statistic. And we want to reduce that.
As more young drivers start to drive on the road as their guardians and educators, we should be reinforcing and improving the knowledge and skills of driving and although it’s something we do everyday, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. We should encourage young drivers and even the older population of drivers to be aware of how using the skills of defensive driving can protect you and be considerate of others while driving. This means culling over to the side of the road if a text or phone call is that important. Or reducing speed and planning ahead so we get to the destination we’re going to safely.
From my own experience, recently of 2026 this year I was in a car accident. Where someone had hit me totaling my car. It terrified me and in the moment it had happened within the blink of an eye to where I couldn’t process anything. Luckily, I was okay but my car wasn’t. Once I had fully processed the situation, I examined my car and was in disbelief I was still alive. That moment that recently happened reminded why it’s so important to be a defensive driver and to constantly be watchful of others on the road.
Although we think other drivers are being aware of what’s going on while driving many aren’t. One quote I’ve always heard that stuck with me while driving is “ thinking for others saves a life. And not just any life, but your life”. Sometimes we don’t realize that others aren’t paying attention on the road and aren’t consciously driving with any thought of what’s going on around them. This is where defensive driving comes in. You monitor his others are following the flow of traffic and if they are maneuvering in a way that is safe.
Another concerning issue when it comes to driving is being under the influence. Although there are many regulations in place for this, as stated previously many drivers today bend the rules for a little fun. Which then only causes harm and havoc to those on the road. We want to see our loved ones come home safely and keep driving that car you named bob you received in high school that’s an old beat up Toyota that you grew a bond with driving. Driving under the influence has taken the innocent lives of many and has altered the complete trajectory of one’s life forever. Understanding the detrimental consequences of driving under the influence is one thing that will help keep the road safe.
Overall, although cars are an amazing invention used to help us get around and are what most Americans today and others around the world depend on, understanding that our cars resourceful weapons help us face the realization of how serious driving is and how we can continue to follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe and able to make it home.
Road safety is the most common issue when it comes to driving. We talk about the next new car that comes out, or dazzling our vehicles without really understanding our cars are a resourceful weapon. Although we hear on the news all the time about the latest accident people say “life happens” and move on like it’s inevitable, but in reality it is very preventable. Road safety involves the infrastructure, rules, and regulations to ensure safe driving that prevents accidents. But even with these in place, these rules are being broken and bent constantly.
For example, texting and driving is one of the most common ways drivers get into accidents. As amazing as a car can be, we have to understand it is a machine. And there are rules to operating heavy machinery one of those rules is constant focus at all times with little-to-no distractions. Distracted driving not only puts the driver at risk but others at risk as well. Making you a danger to everyone else on the road.
People die yearly due to distracted driving. As someone who’s worked in the hospital and in the emergency department specifically, one thing I can say is driving with no regard for others has only manifested itself in taking the lives of innocent adults and children. Breaking apart families. Driving with negligence has only proven itself to make another person become a statistic. And we want to reduce that.
As more young drivers start to drive on the road as their guardians and educators, we should be reinforcing and improving the knowledge and skills of driving and although it’s something we do everyday, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. We should encourage young drivers and even the older population of drivers to be aware of how using the skills of defensive driving can protect you and be considerate of others while driving. This means culling over to the side of the road if a text or phone call is that important. Or reducing speed and planning ahead so we get to the destination we’re going to safely.
From my own experience, recently of 2026 this year I was in a car accident. Where someone had hit me totaling my car. It terrified me and in the moment it had happened within the blink of an eye to where I couldn’t process anything. Luckily, I was okay but my car wasn’t. Once I had fully processed the situation, I examined my car and was in disbelief I was still alive. That moment that recently happened reminded why it’s so important to be a defensive driver and to constantly be watchful of others on the road.
Although we think other drivers are being aware of what’s going on while driving many aren’t. One quote I’ve always heard that stuck with me while driving is “ thinking for others saves a life. And not just any life, but your life”. Sometimes we don’t realize that others aren’t paying attention on the road and aren’t consciously driving with any thought of what’s going on around them. This is where defensive driving comes in. You monitor his others are following the flow of traffic and if they are maneuvering in a way that is safe.
Another concerning issue when it comes to driving is being under the influence. Although there are many regulations in place for this, as stated previously many drivers today bend the rules for a little fun. Which then only causes harm and havoc to those on the road. We want to see our loved ones come home safely and keep driving that car you named bob you received in high school that’s an old beat up Toyota that you grew a bond with driving. Driving under the influence has taken the innocent lives of many and has altered the complete trajectory of one’s life forever. Understanding the detrimental consequences of driving under the influence is one thing that will help keep the road safe.
Overall, although cars are an amazing invention used to help us get around and are what most Americans today and others around the world depend on, understanding that our cars resourceful weapons help us face the realization of how serious driving is and how we can continue to follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe and able to make it home.
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