Driver Education Initiative Award – Annual Scholarship Opportunity
National Driving and Traffic School is proud to announce their 2025 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
Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of preventable road deaths. It can result from alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or distraction. It affects drivers of all ages and experience levels.
For this round, we invite you to explore how driver’s education or traffic safety courses can help reduce impaired driving and protect lives. Please answer the following questions in one cohesive narrative:
- What does “impaired driving” mean to you? Why is it sometimes misunderstood, even by drivers who have completed driver’s education or traffic school?
- What types of impairment, such as alcohol, drugs, texting, or fatigue, are most common among drivers today? How do they affect driving ability and contribute to unsafe behaviour?
- Have you ever experienced or heard a story that changed the way you think about impaired driving? How did it shape your awareness or influence the choices you make behind the wheel?
- How can driver’s education and traffic school courses help change attitudes and behaviours around impaired driving? What makes these programmes effective in real-world situations?
- What role can you personally play in preventing impaired driving? How could your knowledge or training influence others to make safer decisions?
This is an annual scholarship program.
2025 Drivers Education
Apply for the 2025 Drivers Ed Online Contest Round 3
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 two weeks from 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
- Spring 2025 Winners
- 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
- Spring 2025 Contest
- 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 3
by Tony Phan
The essay discusses the importance of safe driving, mentorship, awareness, and community in shaping responsible young drivers.
by Tonie-Kaprice Oclaray
An essay discussing the responsibilities of car drivers and passengers, offering a critical view on phone use while driving.
by Jayna Ivey
This essay details the urgent need for improved teenage driver education and the importance of safe driving practices.
by Amber Prong
A harrowing story emphasizing the devastating impact of distracted driving and advocating for stricter driving safety education.
by Jorge Luis Martinez
An essay stressing the importance of safe driving, its impact on lives and promoting driver education.
by Danylo Ryzhokhin
An essay reflecting on the importance of attentive, conscientious driving practices for safety, influenced by the author's personal experiences.
by Deanna Y Hatchett
This essay discusses the dangers and consequences of impaired driving and recommends educational initiatives for prevention.
by Andrew Whittington
An in-depth exploration of the various forms of impaired driving and its dangerous effects, along with effective strategies for prevention.
by Haleigh Steele
An in-depth analysis of the impact and importance of driver's education on teen driver safety.
by isabella
An insightful discussion on the dangers and societal implications of impaired driving, emphasizing the importance of responsible and safe practices.
by Anusha Arora
An essay about the importance of responsible driving among teenagers, learned from a tragic pet accident.
by Jasmine Wilson
An insightful exploration of impaired driving, stressing not just on the legal but the personal implications.
by adit gupta
An essay on the importance of responsible driving and safety lessons learnt from growing up in Arizona.
by Daeshawn Boyle
An insightful essay dissecting the dangers of driving under the influence of texting, drugs and alcohol.
by Keron
An essay highlighting the importance of driving safety & the role of community in promoting responsible driving.
by Tylina Plante
The essay discusses the various factors causing impaired driving and its prevention.
by Mya Ramirez
An insightful reflection on the dangers of impaired and distracted driving, urging everyone to commit to safe driving practices.
by Ella Chatfield
An exploration of the dangerous impacts of distracted driving among teenagers, offering preventative strategies.
by Jazmin Carrillo
An in-depth essay discussing the importance of drivers' education and proper driving habits to ensure road safety.
by Jazmin Carrillo
An in-depth essay discussing the importance of drivers' education and proper driving habits to ensure road safety.
by Aidyn O'Daniel
This essay talks about the dangers of emotional driving and the importance of responsibility on the roads.
by Natalie Jones
An essay that narrates a teenager's journey overcoming their fear of driving, learning through driver's education.
by Kaitlyn Mills
The essay navigates through the challenges, dangers and solutions related to teenage driving, suggesting a mix of education, legislation and personal accountability.
by Heather Signs
An in-depth look into the various forms of impaired driving and the author's personal commitment to prevent it.
by Mia
A 17-year-old new driver's views on impaired driving, road safety, and the importance of responsible driving.
by David. Sarufa. Haromeara
An essay reflecting on the driving life and lessons from Uncle Hui, emphasizing the importance of responsibility and safety in driving.
by Abram William Matice
The essay emphasizes on the importance of driver's education and the role it plays in improving teen driver safety.
by Valencia Jackson
An in-depth examination of teen driver safety, emphasizing the importance of driver education and responsible habits to prevent accidents.