Madison
Reckman
Drivers
Education Scholarship Essay
11-30-2019
The
Importance of Drivers ed in Current Society
Driving
is one of the most dangerous things a person is legally able to do.
Everytime you get behind the wheel your life could potentially be at
risk. About 34,000 people die each year from driving related
accidents. This number is significant; the loss of life a year from
vehicle related deaths is greater than the total casualties from the
Korean war, one of the top five deadliest combat wars in the United
States. Although the amount of deaths has decreased from 2005’s
yearly statistics of over 40,000 deaths a year, there are more ways
that vehicle deaths can be prevented. This could ultimately lead to
thousands of lives saved every year, lowering the amount of vehicle
fatalities.

Driver’s
education can reduce the amount of fatalities by teaching new drivers
the consequences of their actions while they're driving. This is
extremely important to convey to kids because even though it's their
decision, irresponsible driving can hurt others as well. If driver’s
education shows students’ consequences and tells them how not to
act while driving, they will be more inclined to follow the rules of
the road.

Rules
and tips to stay safe while driving are taught during driver’s
education. Arguably one of the most important lessons included in
drivers ed is teaching new drivers to stay off their mobile
devices. My family was negatively affected because of this problem.
My uncle got into a car accident on the highway. As a result of this
accident, he lost his arm. The accident however, was not his fault.
It was the other drivers fault. The driver was a teenage girl who
became distracted while using her phone and driving. If the girl
driving would have known how she would affect my uncle and his life,
she probably wouldn’t have made the decision to use her device.
Teaching these effects with stories that stick with new drivers can
reduce the occurence of these instances.
People
who have been close to someone affected by a car accident or who have
been personally affected by a car accident are more likely to be more
careful while behind the wheel. This includes putting away electronic
devices while driving. Other ways of staying safe behind the wheel
include: always wearing a seatbelt, focusing all attention on the
road, and knowing your limits. Knowing your limits when driving is a
suggestion that often is forgotten. If there is a storm and you feel
unsafe driving, pull over to the nearest safe area and wait until the
rain slows down. If the music in the car is too loud and passengers
are being rowdy, know when to intervene and ask for some quiet so you
can concentrate on getting to your destination safely. Knowing your
limits when it comes to driving can help avoid many unwanted
mistakes.

Taking
these few steps and following the lessons from drivers ed
can not only improve your driving experience as a new driver—it
saves lives.