Prioritizing the Wheel
2026 Driver Education Round 1
Alessandra Garcia
Houston, Texas
The usual approach with conversations about driving safety begin with real life experiences. Vividly traumatic car accidents, witnessing car accidents, or driving by one on the way home after the countless minutes of traffic.
Fortunately, I personally have not experienced a car accident nor do I have any close experiences to any. However, as a Houstonian it's safe to say I am definitely aware of them and their causes. Learning how to drive in a big city has demonstrated one of if not the most accurate examples of why driving safely is so important.
In the past year of my life, I was in the process of earning my drivers license after my driving permit. With that came learning how to manage a car on big and smaller roads, the rules of traffic, how to spy driving danger and every possible life or death situation one could think of. The only part of this entire process that truly made me not want to get my license was all of the lessons and tests that came with it. Logging onto a website every day, listening to the never-ending history of driving, answering questions that were likely to never occur. It isn't enjoyable for anyone, however it does in some type of way bring awareness to the true intensity of driving.
Receiving proper drivers education is crucial, especially for teenagers or anyone who is a rookie in this subject. Being less experienced means being more at risk, and in driving, if one person is at risk, everyone is at risk. One wrong move from a single car can lead to larger accidents and as gruesome as it sounds, more casualties as well. Therefore, it's important to start from scratch. The earlier you educate yourself, the easier and safer driving will get for you and surrounding spectators. Apart from the education, driving school also teaches the do's and dont's of driving along with real life stories from those with trauma left from driving.
Do use all signals and regulations while driving. Do keep your eyes on the road. Do keep both hands on the wheel. Don't eat or drink while driving. Don't utilize technology while driving. Don't breathe while driving. The intensity is real when it comes to getting educated, however the danger is often underestimated. It's important to bring awareness of the simplicity of following the rules of driving. Following 3 simple steps can save 3 valuable lives. 1 step out of line can cost you and someone else their life.
A simple yet extremely common example of how one can step out of line is driving under the influence. Despite it being illegal, that still doesn't stop anyone from not only committing a crime but putting everyone on the line. The line that slowly becomes transparent when alcohol is involved. Its incredible to see how a single drop of fermented liquid in ones body system can trigger actions that can lead to possibly permanent effects. First hand experiences of driving under the influences are hardly seen, no one wants to admit to their life or death occurrences. But seeing it happen right in front of you is unexpectedly educational.
Feeling the sudden jerks of the car moving side to side because of the unsteady wheel. Feeling the alternation between speeding and driving the speed limit. Seeing the reoccurring, dark road only being lit up by foggy headlights and being hypnotized by it. Thinking about how a single piece of threaded polyester will protect you from a collision at an unsteady mile per hour. Although petrifying, this is what makes me want to become a safer driver the more I get behind the wheel.
The domino effect in driving has is own twist to it. Sometimes one persons action can affect the other, then the person after, then the person after, but in some ways it can slip away instantly. When it comes to becoming an educated, safe driver, it doesn't always knock the next person. I've heard countless stories about growing up with cop sirens, traffic tickets and court dates. It always ends in, "When someone tells you to be licensed before you drive, it's best you listen". I've luckily always listened, but I'm one of the millions of people in the world who or will eventually be behind a wheel one day.
That is why spreading the do's of driving must always be counted for. It must always be recognized that driving is just as important as learning how to walk, speak, move and most importantly, how to live.
Fortunately, I personally have not experienced a car accident nor do I have any close experiences to any. However, as a Houstonian it's safe to say I am definitely aware of them and their causes. Learning how to drive in a big city has demonstrated one of if not the most accurate examples of why driving safely is so important.
In the past year of my life, I was in the process of earning my drivers license after my driving permit. With that came learning how to manage a car on big and smaller roads, the rules of traffic, how to spy driving danger and every possible life or death situation one could think of. The only part of this entire process that truly made me not want to get my license was all of the lessons and tests that came with it. Logging onto a website every day, listening to the never-ending history of driving, answering questions that were likely to never occur. It isn't enjoyable for anyone, however it does in some type of way bring awareness to the true intensity of driving.
Receiving proper drivers education is crucial, especially for teenagers or anyone who is a rookie in this subject. Being less experienced means being more at risk, and in driving, if one person is at risk, everyone is at risk. One wrong move from a single car can lead to larger accidents and as gruesome as it sounds, more casualties as well. Therefore, it's important to start from scratch. The earlier you educate yourself, the easier and safer driving will get for you and surrounding spectators. Apart from the education, driving school also teaches the do's and dont's of driving along with real life stories from those with trauma left from driving.
Do use all signals and regulations while driving. Do keep your eyes on the road. Do keep both hands on the wheel. Don't eat or drink while driving. Don't utilize technology while driving. Don't breathe while driving. The intensity is real when it comes to getting educated, however the danger is often underestimated. It's important to bring awareness of the simplicity of following the rules of driving. Following 3 simple steps can save 3 valuable lives. 1 step out of line can cost you and someone else their life.
A simple yet extremely common example of how one can step out of line is driving under the influence. Despite it being illegal, that still doesn't stop anyone from not only committing a crime but putting everyone on the line. The line that slowly becomes transparent when alcohol is involved. Its incredible to see how a single drop of fermented liquid in ones body system can trigger actions that can lead to possibly permanent effects. First hand experiences of driving under the influences are hardly seen, no one wants to admit to their life or death occurrences. But seeing it happen right in front of you is unexpectedly educational.
Feeling the sudden jerks of the car moving side to side because of the unsteady wheel. Feeling the alternation between speeding and driving the speed limit. Seeing the reoccurring, dark road only being lit up by foggy headlights and being hypnotized by it. Thinking about how a single piece of threaded polyester will protect you from a collision at an unsteady mile per hour. Although petrifying, this is what makes me want to become a safer driver the more I get behind the wheel.
The domino effect in driving has is own twist to it. Sometimes one persons action can affect the other, then the person after, then the person after, but in some ways it can slip away instantly. When it comes to becoming an educated, safe driver, it doesn't always knock the next person. I've heard countless stories about growing up with cop sirens, traffic tickets and court dates. It always ends in, "When someone tells you to be licensed before you drive, it's best you listen". I've luckily always listened, but I'm one of the millions of people in the world who or will eventually be behind a wheel one day.
That is why spreading the do's of driving must always be counted for. It must always be recognized that driving is just as important as learning how to walk, speak, move and most importantly, how to live.
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