Awake. Alert. Alive.

Drivers ed Initiative Essay – Awake. Alert. Alive.

By Grace Schuler; 30 Walker Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA; Phone – 301-518-4755; Email – [email protected].

Answer the following questions:

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN YOUR ESSAY / APPLICATION:

• What is the importance of drivers ed 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?

April 11, 2017. I started the day off great with a college visit and ended it watching my older brother get wheeled into the operating room about to undergo neurosurgery for a traumatic brain injury he received when hit by a car driven by a distracted driver. My brother left the house that morning a college-recruited athlete a month away from graduating high school and ended it with a 50% chance of survival. And while he did make it through, it has come at a great cost to himself and our family over the past three years.

Your essay questions numbers 1 and 2 above are actually being addressed by my state of Maryland, so I will share what they are doing and how I work to encourage friends to pay attention to the law.

Since 2009, Maryland has banned texting while driving. All drivers are prohibited from writing or sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle. This is one of the first lessons taught by any driving school in the area.

Currently in Maryland, the distracted driving fine for first-time offenders is $83. A second offense can cost $140, and a third offense is $160. There are also additional costs related to court proceedings, as well as points on your driving record. And should you injure or kill someone while you are using a handheld device, thanks to Jake’s Law (named after five-year-old Jake Owen who was killed by a driver who was texting and talking), you will be fined up to $5,000 and receive three years in jail. Last year, Maryland lawmakers approved a bill that increases the maximum fine for texting while driving to $500.

Over the last five years in my Maryland county alone (Montgomery), five teenagers have been killed and at least 292 teen pedestrians have been hit by cars due to the drivers texting or being otherwise distracted. As part of educating all drivers, the county instituted the “Stay Alert. Stay Alive” campaign (see following page) directed at both distracted drivers and pedestrians and bicyclists to try to combat the problem.

I think a great solution for reducing the risk would be an invention to help lower the temptation to drive while distracted. I believe installing a device similar to the ignition interlock breathalyzer that would prevent your car from starting until you listened to/viewed the following check list could be helpful.

Grace Schuler – Page 2

I would like to propose the following as a possible solution for keeping pedestrians safer:

PROPOSED DISTRACTED DRIVING DEVICE – Starts when key is put in ignition:

AUDIO:
DO NOT THINK OF DRIVING THIS CAR IF YOU:

• Have consumed alcohol;

• Are tired;

• Plan to text or talk without a hands-free device;

• Are going to eat, drink or play with your radio.

IF YOU CAN’T BE RESPONSIBLE, DON’T DRIVE!

VIDEO:
As the check list is being read, a series of Street Smart ads similar to the following would be rotating on the screen:

While I am not sure that a specific invention or device can make someone take more personal responsibility, I do believe being acutely aware of the causes of distracted driving and paying the price for not following the rules are keys to stopping the problem.

I invite you to click here to see a video that shares some of my brother’s story. It is an essay he wrote to honor his principal who helped him during his year of acute rehab due to the injuries suffered from a distracted driver: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hR40cqJFSA