Driver Education Initiative – Keeping Lives Safe!!

Ariana Aguayo

Moreno Valley
College (Middle College High School)

High School Junior

From: Moreno Valley,
CA

11/30/19

Keeping
Lives Safe!

Teens
need to be taught that driving is a task that is complex and
demanding. Driving is a very exciting stage in one’s life. However,
we need to realize the importance of driving safely. We can do that
by taking all the required steps that come with the responsibility of
driving. For example, the importance of drivers ed and also
considering what steps could be taken to reduce the number of deaths.
All these self-reflection techniques will help drivers see the
reality and importance of being safe, cautious and responsible while
driving.

I
remember my first encounter at driving. I was 15 years old. I had
waited so long for this moment, all my friends were learning how to
drive and getting prepared to take the long awaited “written test”.
I felt so excited like I was finally “grown up”. However, I
remember the first thing my mother told which was that although I was
learning how to drive a truck, I always needed to be cautious and
safe because this vehicle can instantly become a deadly machine. At
first, I just pushed that lesson past me. I didn’t realize that as
soon as I stepped on the accelerator pedal the truck would move so
fast. Luckily, there was no one around but just the thought of
hurting someone for my careless actions scared me and made me vomit.
I immediately got off the truck and ran to the crib and just sat
there to cry. I felt so irresponsible, so dumb and careless.

My
mom explained to me that in a blink of an eye, my life could change
while driving a vehicle recklessly. It was in that moment I knew that
I had to do everything in my power to take all precautions in
learning how to be a safe and responsible driver. I never wanted to
feel that guilt ever again in my life. Therefore, I took my time
studying day and night to learn about everything that I needed to
know about driving. I practiced and practiced with caution, I also
took my drivers ed courses online, second hand independent driver
education course with taught me the importance of driving using
simulations. Drivers ed taught me that there are many
consequences that come with being an unsafe and irresponsible driver.
Having this knowledge upon the rules of the road and learning to
operate a car safely and under supervision really helped enhance my
experience and increased my ability to be a safe driver. I have
developed many safe driving habits that I use in my daily life.

Although
there are many steps to ensure safe, cautious and responsible driving
while also decreasing the number of deaths each year. The most
important steps remain to be including greater awareness and
enforcement of the DUI laws. Also, ensuring that every licensed
driver is properly trained in operating a vehicle, stopping the usage
of cell phone use voluntarily while operating a vehicle, enforcing a
law that requires a chip in all vehicles that calculates and monitors
the usage of cell phone use, close crash situations and more. There
also needs to be a setting on cell phones that automatically
activates when a driver enters a vehicle that prohibits messages and
phone calls from being received and only allows emergency calls. All
these laws/solutions should be made standard in order to provide
security and safety for all drivers and pedestrians.

Fortunately,
due to my excellent experience in driving safely and always being
cautious while operating my vehicle, I have never been in a car
crash. None of my family members have ever encountered in being
involved in a crash. I believe this hasn’t yet happened to any of
us because we are so experienced and learned the right, cautious and
responsible way of being safe in operating our vehicles. However,
only because we haven’t been involved in a situation like that
doesn’t mean we should ever stop being safe drivers. On the
contrary, we should take our experiences and influence/teach others
of the importance of safe driving.

Furthermore,
we can become and continue to be safe and responsible drivers by
staying off our phones, reminding each other the importance of safe
driving, know who is riding with you, follow all the rules and laws
of driving, not driving when I am not going to be focused, share my
knowledge and experience with others around me, etc. It’s our
habits that we must change in order to make a true impact upon being
a safe driver. We need to be aware of the reality and know the true
consequences upon not being a safe driver so that we can better
ourselves and keep everyone safe around us.

Overall, I hope my essay encourages others to realize the importance
of being a safe driver. The statistics show that we need to do
everything in our power to be safe and responsible drivers. How many
lives must be taken until we realize the importance of safe driving?
What can we do to change those statistics?