In Control

Being in the driver's seat holds great responsibility and means much more than holding a steering wheel. It means being granted the ability to make choices that protect not only your own life, but also the lives of others that you share the road with. It is a privilege that is earned and not given. 

Every time you get behind the wheel, you are making an executive decision and commitment to choose to drive responsibly, remain attentive, and understand that a single decision can have lifelong consequences. Safe driving goes far beyond following the law or having the ability to go wherever you may want, but it is about valuing both human life. 

My understanding of this immense responsibility comes from both unfortunate personal loss and firsthand experience. A few years ago, my cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident in Northwest Indiana. To many people, he was known to be my cousin, but to me, he was much more than that. He was like an older brother, someone I looked up to, someone I admired, someone who made me laugh, and someone I expected would always be there for my life's biggest moments. While no words could ever describe the pain that my family experienced, his death forever changed the way I think about driving. 

His death affected every member of out family, but one of the hardest realities was that he unwillingly left behind his two-year-old daughter without a father figure. She lost the opportunity to grow up with her father, not because of a choice she made, but because of a tragedy that changed countless lives in an instant. While family and friends came together to support her, no amount of love can replace the presence of her father. Every birthday, holiday, and milestone reminds us that someone will always be missing in her life and is also a moment that my cousin will never get to experience with her. 

After losing someone so close to me, I became much more aware of the choices drivers make every day. I pay closer attention to my surroundings both during the day and at night, watch more carefully for other transportation like motorcycles, avoid distractions like phones, and recognize that even a moment of impatience can change multiple lives forever. Whenever I get behind the wheel, I remember that I am responsible for more than simply reaching my destination, but also ensuring that safety is implemented. 

Unfortunately, stories like my cousin's are not rare. In fact, traffic accidents continue to impact thousands of families each year. According to Indiana traffic safety statistics, there were 964 traffic fatalities statewide in one year, increasing from the year prior. During this same year, 50,000 people suffered from non-fatal injuries in crashes. This statistic puts into perspective how many lives can be altered instantly. Behind every one of those numbers is someone with a dream, loved ones, and a future that may never be the same because of these accidents. While statistics help us understand the issue at hand, those numbers represent people who have been affected and cannot replace the value of human life. 

My perspective has also grown through the opportunity of my internship at the Lake County Government Center. Working under the honorable Judge Cantrell, her courtroom is focused on traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses that affect individuals, families, and the community. Every day, I see cases that involve citations that are regarding speeding, reckless driving (going beyond 20 MPH), driving without a license or insurance, and other serious offenses. While many people may think that a traffic citation is a minor inconvenience, I have learned that these cases often represent decisions that could have ended much worse. 

While the defendant's intentions are never to harm anyone, intentions do not erase consequences. Having the ability to be in a courtroom with judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officers who deal with poor decision-making ensures the idea that driving safely is not onlya bout avoding a ticket or points on one's license but about preventing a tragedy before it occurs. 

As someone who is increasingly interested in the law and public policy, law alone cannot prevent every accident. Safe driving begins with personal accountability and responsibility. Drivers must choose to put down their phones and focus, obey posted speed limits, remain patient in traffic, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These are choices that cannot be enforced by law alone but must come from someone choosing to understand that every decision is a decision affecting someone's life. 

My cousin's accident is an important example of why defensive driving is so important. Unlike vehicles, motorcyclists have far less protection during a collision. Drivers must constantly be aware of their surroundings, signal lane changes, and always remain attentive. Since the loss of my cousin, I have made it a habit to always look twice before changing lanes because I know firsthand what can happen when a motorcycle is overlooked. 

Education is one of the strongest tools drivers can utilize in order to reduce accidents. Learning traffic laws should not end after earning a driver's license because driving safely requires continuous awareness, maturity, and the willingness to improve our habits. Whether that means taking defensive driving courses, staying informed about changing laws, or simply reminding your friends and family to drive safely. 

The title of this scholarship, In the Driver's Seat, reminds me that we are all in control of our choices. Although we cannot control the weather, road conditions, or event he actions of every other driver, we can control our own behavior and actions while being on a shared road. We decide whether to speed or slow down, whether to answer a text or keep our eyes on the road. and whether to drive aggressively or patiently. Those decisions may seem small in that moment, but they can determine whether someone will arrive home to their families safely. 

As I prepare for a future career in law as an attorney, I hope to continue to advocate for a safer community through accountability, education, and public service. My personal loss and my experience working within the justice system have taught me that traffic safety is not an abstract issue; it is personal. Every safe decision behind the wheel has the potential to save a life; be a part of that. 

Being in the driver's seat is both a privilege and a responsibility. I carry my cousin's memory with me every time I drive, and it reminds me that no destination is worth risking a life. I hope this story brings awareness and respect for those on the road. Drive with patience, awareness, and respect for everyone on the road. By choosing to drive responsibly rather than recklessly, we can change the statistics and have the power to make the road safer. Sometimes the most important journey is not about how quickly we arrive, but about ensuring that everyone has the chance to arrive at all.  

Choosing to drive safely makes a greater difference than most people realize. One responsible decision can prevent a lifetime of heartbreak. Choose to drive safely. Choose to save a life.