Driver Education Initiative Award – Annual Scholarship Opportunity
National Driving and Traffic School is proud to announce their 2024 scholarship opportunity, entitled “In the Driver’s Seat.” The company is seeking to reward essay applicants $10,000 in scholarships- for students entering college or already enrolled in a higher education institution – on the topic of being a safer driver.
Driver Education Initiative 2025: In the Driver’s Seat
The Topic of this year’s essay submissions deals with the serious implications of being a driver. In America, an average of 34,000 people die each year as a result of driving. This is more people who have died in one year as a result of driving, than the total number of American soldiers who have died from war in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The total number of Americans who die within the span of two years as a result of driving is more than the total number of American deaths from the Vietnam war. This is to say, driving is more dangerous and deadly for our nation than being involved in combat, and highlights the serious consequences of being negligent on the road.
Courtesy: NHTSA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war
Many drivers are not aware of these startling and very scary facts, especially newer drivers. The essay contest “In The Driver’s Seat” seeks to have applicants highlight the importance of being a safe and educated driver. This scholarship seeks to reward six students for his or her submission dealing with the importance of being a safe and educated driver. The application is handled in essay format. To apply, submit an essay of no less than 750 words in Microsoft Word format addressing the following questions:
Questions to be answered in your Essay/Application
- What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number deaths as a result of driving?
- What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?
- Have you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?
- What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?
This is an annual scholarship program.
2025 Drivers Education
Apply for the 2025 Drivers Ed Online Contest Round 1
Submission Details
Applicants must be currently enrolled in either High School, University or College. Employees and relatives of National Driving and Traffic School are ineligible. There will be three contest submission dates. To be eligible for the contest submit your essay by one of the submission dates.
- Round 1: January 3rd 2025 – March 31st
Winners: Announced May 3rd - Round 2: Accepting entries May 3rd – August 1st.
Announced September 1st - Round 3: Accepting entries September 1st – November 30th.
Announced 1/2/26
* Please note, to limit the number of entries, the minimum word requirement for the essay submissions is 750 words. Entries not meeting the minimum word requirement will not be posted.
Along with your submission please include a picture of yourself which we can post on our site to go along with your essay
The winner will be required to provide proof of successful acceptance to a Higher Institute of Learning, College or University. Payment will be made directly to the applicant’s college. If you have additional questions, please contact us. This contest is open to all students in U.S., Canada, and abroad.
2 winners are chosen for each contest: staff favorite, and most voted for. Vote tallies end on the date of the contest deadline. We award a prize of $500 to each winner every contest.
- Previous winners may not reapply.
- Due to the use of AI, we will be favoring more personal essays written from experience.
- For the most shared essay, shares are counted by the number of people who share your post on their Facebook Page. Share counts stop on the day of the contest submission deadline.
- Please note that, by joining the contest, you consent to the publication of your essay on our website.
Previous Contest Winner Announcements
- Fall 2024 Winners
- Summer 2024 Winners
- Spring 2024 Winners
- Fall 2023 Winners
- Summer 2023 Winners
- Spring 2023 Winners
- Fall 2022 Winners
- Sumer 2022 Winners
- Spring 2022 Winners
- Fall 2021 Winners
- Summer 2021 Winners
- Winter 2021 Winners
- Fall 2020 Winners
- Summer 2020 Winners
- Spring 2020 Winners
- Fall 2019 Winners
- Spring 2019 Winners
- Summer 2019 Winners
- Spring 2019 Winners
- Winter 2018 Winners
- Summer 2018 Winners
Previous Contests
- Fall 2024 Contest
- Summer 2024 Contest
- Spring 2024 Contest
- Fall 2023 Contest
- Summer 2023 Contest
- Spring 2023 Contest
- Fall 2023 Contest
- Summer 2022 Contest
- Spring 2022 Contest
- Fall 2021 Contest
- Summer 2021 Contest
- Winter 2021 Contest
- Fall 2020 Contest
- Spring 2020 Contest
- Fall 2019 Contest
- Summer 2019 Contest
- Spring 2019 Contest
- Scholarship articles archive
2025 Drivers Ed Essays Gallery – Round 1
by Joshua Robinson

Traditional driver education has a limited impact on decreasing the number of fatalities caused by driving. The crucial lesson on how to actually care about the others sharing the road and teach the understanding that the road is not a personal racetrack is missing. We must realize that every honk, every brake slam, and every reckless lane change has consequences.
by Aiden Christopher Stathers

A personal story of the importance of safe driving.
by Angela Recarey

Every day from the moment you get in your car, your life is at risk. You just do not realize it because driving has become an automatic task people generally do without thought. Each stop light, lane change, or parking lot is a hazard. Why is that? Why has driving become such a dangerous everyday necessity? How can we change it? These are some questions we will dive into and hopefully find a solution to make sure people everywhere get home safe when they put their foot to the gas.
by Leyla Lopez

My essay is about my journey beginning to drive and how I realized there needs to be more read safety. After a recent tragic car accident with my boyfriend, I encourage the youth and my fellow classmates to not act "cool¨ whilst operating a motor vehicle because they can be dangerous. I hope to spread awareness to people of how important it is to give your full attention when driving on the road.
by Elise Uhde

This essay answers the prompts with vivid personal experiences, and provides insight into reckless driving.
by Jaxson Buecker

Like most teens, driving was a big step for me. It brought me freedom and more responsibility. In this essay, I'll share some personal stories how driver education helped me become a safer driver, teaching safe driving habits, and raising awareness about common risks. Enjoy this essay explaining my initiative in 2025 to communicate more about safe driving practices.
by Christa Green

Distracted driving claims thousands of lives each year, leaving families devastated and lives forever changed. Drawing from a deeply personal experience, this piece explores the importance of fostering a culture of accountability, expanding educational programs, and engaging parents for lasting change.
by Ainsley M Lambert

My essay emphasizes the importance of driver safety and the role education plays in preventing accidents. Using personal experiences, I advocate for proper training, higher awareness, and responsibility to create safer roads. I concluded my essay with a call to action for all drivers to prioritize safety behind the wheel while taking accountability.
by Cindy Maness

Driver’s education is vital to the safety of our children and all drivers on the road.
by Ayah Mateen

I don't have a license. I spend a lot of time on the street. Atlanta isn't a walkable city and has few sidewalks and hundreds of car accident deaths. It's dangerous to drive on the road but even more dangerous to walk the side of it. This essay is about my perspective on reckless driving as the girl on the roadside. With it, I hope to bring a new, perhaps unexpected, voice to the conversation on bad driving habits.
by Chang Hyun Park

This essay explores the critical role of driver education in reducing traffic-related deaths. It highlights practical steps individuals, governments, and society can take to improve road safety. Drawing from personal experiences across different countries, the essay emphasizes fostering confidence, responsibility, and awareness to become a safer driver and create safer roads for everyone.
by Lavontae John Cox

Driving comes with a lot of responsibilities, but as drivers we must make the smartest and safest decision to not only protect ourselves, but to protect everyone else that’s on the road.
by Conner Quintero

The steering wheel of a car has a lot to say about it's new driver! Enjoy a quick glimpse into the life of the steering wheel in the car of a soon-to-be/new driver.
by Isaac S Wang

This essay explores the critical role of driver education, personal responsibility, and proactive measures in reducing road accidents. Through personal experiences and reflections, it emphasizes the importance of safe driving practices and the communal effort needed to make our roads safer for everyone.
by Ava Elizabeth Drehs

This is a 760 word essay that discusses how the crashes I have been in opened my eyes to the importance of road safety.
by Maranda L Rojas

This essay is about a car accident that left me with a broken wrist. Through the pain of recovery, I learned to appreciate the simple things in life, like good health and independence and realized how quickly things can change. It’s a reminder to value what we have before it’s gone.
by Megan Blackburn

I have been in four, nonfault accidents over the last two years. I discuss the importance of reducing distracted driving while calling on past experiences. /// please ignore my prior submission, i submitted my rough draft on accident, thank you. ///
by Maia Shiloh Rolle

Driver education is essential to the action of driving. You need driver education to know what your doing on the road and to also know what other are doing as well.
by Kelsey Graber

As a high school senior preparing for college, I understand the importance of safe driving and the responsibilities it entails. I believe driver education is essential in reducing driving-related deaths by equipping new drivers with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the road safely. My mom has always emphasized the importance of safety, never allowing me to use my phone while driving—a lesson that has shaped my commitment to responsible driving. Through better driver education, stricter traffic law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and improved infrastructure, we can save lives. As a future driver, I pledge to follow these principles and advocate for road safety in my community.
by Samiyah Pearson

Driving is a crucial part of life and the irresponsible behavior of others can turn it into a dangerous situation
by Miriam Dever

This essay, emphasizes the critical role of driver education in reducing traffic-related fatalities. It explores the importance of comprehensive driver training, suggests measures such as stricter laws, public awareness campaigns, and accessible education programs to improve road safety, and highlights the writer's personal commitment to responsible driving. Through personal experiences and actionable insights, the essay advocates for a collective effort to make roads safer for everyone.
by Harper Campbell

Operating a vehicle is very dangerous, so it is important that drivers thoroughly understand driving safety and the dangers of distracted driving. Holding a driver's license comes with big responsibility; actions on the road affect both oneself and other drivers.
by Yusra Abubakar

This essay reflects on my personal experience with road safety education, particularly a traumatic car accident involving my brother, which resulted in a life-changing injury. I share how this event made me realise the importance of driver education in reducing road deaths. I discuss how teaching young drivers not only the rules of the road but also the emotional and psychological consequences of their actions can help prevent accidents. The essay advocates for stronger regulations, hands-on education, and a cultural shift toward prioritising responsible driving, aiming to inspire others to drive safely and make better choices.
by Erica Hunter

My essay talks about why driver education is crutial for cutting down on road accidents and saving lives. It covers how good training can make a big difference, the need for enforcing traffic laws, improvements in road infrastructure, and the latest safety tech out there. My personal experiences, as mentioned in the essay, highlight why each of us needs to take responsibility behind the wheel and work together to make our roads safer. I wrap it up by giving some practical tips on how to drive safely and encourage friends to do the same.
by Messiah Khalfani

The essay "In the Driver’s Seat: The Responsibility of Safe Driving" emphasizes the critical need for responsible driving to address the alarming number of annual road fatalities in America. It explores the main causes of these fatalities, including distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding, while underscoring the false sense of security many drivers feel. The author shares a personal story of a near-collision caused by a friend's distracted driving, illustrating how negligence can lead to life-altering consequences. The essay advocates for improved driver education, integrating real-world scenarios, defensive driving lessons, and mandatory refresher courses to instill the seriousness of road safety. It highlights the importance of youth awareness, detailing the author's involvement in a school-led road safety campaign that fostered community conversations about responsible driving. The essay also examines the role of technology, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), while stressing that personal responsibility remains irreplaceable. Finally, the essay calls for promoting accountability and fostering a culture of safe driving. It concludes by urging drivers to recognize the profound responsibility of being behind the wheel, advocating for education, technology, and individual action to reduce fatalities and create safer roads for all.
by Dylan Schoenbrod

The essay recounts a personal accident experience and highlights the importance of driver education and the dangers of distracted driving.
by Jordan Wilson

My first time driving with my instructor was quite the experience, but it did stick with me.
by Benjamin J Rodriguez

In this essay, I share a personal experience about the dangers of reckless driving and the mindset of where it comes from. A near-miss incident on the road served as a waking call to change my driving behavior. Sharing cautionary tales, encouraging personal accountability, and educating drivers are the ways to make our roads safer. Ultimately this essay is a call to action to lessen driving fatalities.