Knowledge Is Power

Drivers ed Initiative Award – Summer 2019

Name: Daija Green
From: Tomball, Texas
Votes: 348

Daija Green

May 28, 2019

Knowledge
Is Power

Driving
has great power and impact in todays society, this power can either
be positive or negative. Unfortnately the power of driving has a
considerable impact on fatal tragedies. We’ve all heard the quote
“Knowledge is power” by Francis Bacon. The only way we can change
this negative impact that driving creates is through knowledge. It is
up to drivers such as me and you to decide how we want our driving to
impact society.

Being knowledgably about driver’s safety can alter the negative
effects of driving. 34,000 is the number of people who die each year
as a result of driving. Whether you have been driving for twenty plus
years or just getting your license, we all could work toward change.
William Van Tassel, the AAA manager of driver training programs
stated, “Research confirms what conventional wisdom tells us-
drivers ed makes a difference.” For some driving is second
nature and for others driving is new, exciting and maybe even scary.
Both the experienced and inexperienced can make a significant
difference through their knowledge. Those who are more experienced
have practical knowledge and are comfortable while driving. This
comfortability may lead to an additional task such as texting,
applying makeup, adjusting music, talking to passengers or handling
children. These tasks that seem so effortless at the time can be very
detrimental to both you and surrounding drivers. The new and
inexperienced drivers either have lack of caution or are very
cautious. Either way both lack knowledge that is obtained through
years of driving.

In 2009 I was involved in a tragic car accident that sent both my
sister and grandmother to the hospital. On our way to church one
Sunday morning, I along with my little sister was sitting in the back
seats while my grandmother was in the driver seat. My grandmas phone
rang, and she decided to answer. The call stirred up her emotions and
before we knew it, she had blacked out and ran into the car in front
of her. All because of a 5-minute phone call, my grandma and sister
were both rushed to the hospital and the car was completely totaled.
My grandma was one of those experienced drivers who became
comfortable with adding a task. At the time, answering the phone call
seemed harmless. Driving holds great power and as people who hold
power we must be more aware of the impact driving has and take
initiative to educate ourselves abundantly.