Noë Smith
2020 Drivers ed Scholarship
01 July 2020














Drunk driving has wreaked havoc on endless amounts of families, because of the carelessness of others. That which could have been prevented has most times ended horrendously. The victims of drunk driving no longer have a voice, and the families of these victims no longer have their loved ones to speak to. Ways that could prevent drivers from driving drunk are providing the proper and necessary education to youth. Minors, 21 and younger are most liable for fatal crashes relating to driving under the influence. That fact alone should give all administrators, parents, and teens pause. If foundational driving principles and crash statistics are further implemented into schools across the country, along with extensive real-life examples from survivors. A great change like this can only happen if students can relate and become empathetic to the dangers on the road. Not only could they be the victim, but they could be the ones held responsible for someone's death and bear the burden of guilt and shame for the rest of their lives. Most times, instigators of drunk driving never recover from a disturbed conscience, based on the severity of the crash will face several years to life in prison. Recently, I have completed my first Drivers Ed course and it has alerted me to some of the ways I can practice safe driving, like calling a trusted friend if I've been drinking (at the legal age, of course), informing me about Texas' Open Container Laws and Zero Tolerance laws for minors. None of which I was educated on in either Middle School or High School. I learned these pivotal bits of information at 18 years old, but it's almost even too late for eager 16-year-olds, whose singular goal is to get on the road and bask in their newfound freedom. What I can do--what anybody can do who has an inkling of care and concern for others will educate themselves on methods to abstain from driving while drunk, and try to be an example for others by making the right decisions.