Driver Education Initiative Award: In the Driver's Seat

I believe it is important to the lives of both drivers and pedestrians to be educated on how to drive safely and responsibly. Too many individuals are affected by the tragedies that too often occur when uneducated drivers take to the streets.

In addition, I believe it is important to reduce the amount of deaths related to driving in other manners. There are steps that auto manufacturers and others have made throughout recent history to play their part in creating safer roadways. For example, great strides have been made with solar and electric powered vehicles. They are much less combustible than gas powered vehicles and are therefore safer in that manner.

Having been the victim of an accident due to irresponsible driving, I feel that it is appropriate for me to argue for more responsible and safe driving practices. Although, to expect that people use the safer practices we desire, we must educate them. We must give people the tools to be safer and more responsible drivers.

Personally, I can be a safer and more responsible driver. I can educate myself about the specific type of vehicle I intend on driving and refrain from driving anything that I am unfamiliar or untrained in driving. In addition, I can help others to be safer on the roads by being a safe and responsible driver myself, in essence, leading by example.

In giving someone a vehicle, assuming that they know how to use it, gives that person a way of transportation. However, in doing so without educating them on how to use the vehicle correctly is, in a sense, setting the stage for accidents. Teaching someone to operate a vehicle correctly rather, sets the stage for safer and more responsible transportation resulting in fewer accidents.