Laura
Thron


The
DMV Scholarship Essay


I
will never forget the advice my father gave me when I was only
sixteen years old and learning how to drive. “Laura it’s not you
I’m worried about; it’s everyone else!” proclaimed my very wise
father. When you first start driving you are learning so many
different things, from navigating the road, understanding different
road signs and developing ways of sharing the road with those around
you. Although I am not a perfect driver, I make sure to be aware of
the laws and my impact on the road. This topic holds dear to me
because while I was in high school a friend of mine passed away to a
drunk driving car accident. Ever since that day I have vowed that I
will never put myself or others at risk by driving distracted.

The
reality is that each and every one of us wakes up every morning and
drives to work despite the many risks. I always think to myself, it
won’t happen to me right? Everything from drunk drivers, tired
drivers, texting drivers and reckless drivers. For many, driving is
not a time where people are actively thinking about the risk or
consequences of sending a quick text or having one too many drinks
and then driving home on a Friday night. As a community we can all
collectively do a better job being more aware on the road and keeping
one another accountable for our decisions.




One
huge issue is the severity of the punishment of many traffic laws.
Stricter driving laws will keep the entire community safer. I
currently live near an affluent neighborhood where many individuals
will park illegally because the $60 ticket isn’t more of a headache
than the convenience of parking close to the destination. Due to this
mentality, many laws lose their power. I believe if we created more
harsh punishments or ones where you were required to give back to the
community there would be more alert, law following drivers. This will
not only lower the amount of distracted drivers, but also instil the
importance of their civic duty to support the community. Another way
to lessen traffic violations would be to require everyone to take a
class on the dangers of distracted driving and the consequences as
part of the requirements when receiving a driver's license, as well
as after every 5 years as a friendly reminder.



The
fact is people need to be more aware of their surroundings and that
the risks they take while driving have consequences. At the end of
the day we are all sharing the road! It should not have to take a
serious accident or near death experience to change people's thinking
about distracted driving. We, as a community need to come together in
this important mission of keeping our mothers, siblings, cousins,
friends, children and everyone in between safe on the road. I will
continue to make an active effort to spread the word and make the
roads safer! Will you join in too?