Samantha Autry

Jacksonville High
School
Jacksonville NC,
28546
Drivers ed
Initiative Scholarship

Taken
for Granted

Driving
education not only teaches us to memorize the laws, signs, and their
meanings, but puts huge emphasis on the awareness we all need while
cruising the corners. This one teacher put in front of us is not only
giving us the facts of the roads but placing the importance of safe
and defensive driving that is needed at any time while behind the
wheel. So now it is our choice, to be attentive in class and behind
the wheel, or sleep through class and be laid back? And will
this be the reflection of our driving habits? 
Throughout
school we correlate students that sleep or “horse-play” within
the classroom are the ones who will not be as focused on life goals
to the ones who are prompt and vigilant with their time. Why do we
not make this same correlation through a drivers ed class?
Good habits from the beginning make all the difference in the
future. We must take bigger steps to include more of the
importance and awareness of carrying a greater composure and
better work ethic in a class that will cumulate a life-long
privilege. Bigger steps to make known to the society of drivers
around our nation that driving is a privilege, not a right. A
privilege in which we are given a license to honor
ourselves and those around us with our attentiveness and safe habits
on and off the road when around vehicles. 
As
a high-school student, I can attest to a traumatic car accident where
a peer’s life was suddenly in the hands of the paramedics and
time. 
It
was seven o’ clock in the morning, crossing the street to school
along the crosswalk we have kids seemingly shuffling across the road,
impatient car drivers edging a little closer to the white lines until
they get their turn, and a handful of eyewitnesses that have no idea
of the chilling events to occur. In instances, a “THUNK,”
followed by a “SkkRRT,” an
“eeeEEE”
as the car sped off and a crowd of terrified eyes were left at the
scene. Swarms of people are attested to gather around as one of our
fellow students was now a victim to a distracted, hazardous, young
driver. A life-flight from our front practice field, months of
recovery, and a community that came together sending help for the
family were the direct results of this nearly fatal accident. Today,
my reflection of how to remain a safe driver are what remains with me
as the indirect results. 
As
I never wish to be the cause of such an accident, I must never forget
the defining factors of “accident,” an event of unintentional
actions. I remind myself to always check my surrounding, rid of any
distractions, pull over if distracted, and remain patient because a
human life touched by a 3000-pound hunk of metal depends on it.