“Drive Safely, It all Starts with You”

According to a Personal Injury Law Firm’s website, statistics show that “in 2015, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers”. Another website regarding the year 2020 driving accidents rates stated that “early estimates from the NSC indicate that through the end of November 2020, 38,370 people had lost their lives in crashes. Accordingly, it is likely that when final fatality figures are provided for 2020 we will have lost more than 40,000 lives”.

Talking on the cell phone and texting while driving are the two main issues that distract drivers. While such distraction can be stimulated by day-to-day living, the consequences can last a lifetime. The fact and the prediction that I have presented above have just been pertaining to the years 2015 and 2020. Sadly, this is just a couple of the many distracted driving fatalities and accident statistics. I believe that these two staggering pieces of information, not including all the other information regarding this subject, calls for a change in our driving community and continuing laws from our government.

Many states have noticed the staggering numbers regarding distracted driving accidents and fatalities. While the states have made laws in an effort to combat these numbers, the accidents and fatalities to have not been successfully contained. I believe that educating the ‘new generation of drivers’ on the importance of responsible driving is the key to success. I recognize that states have put such education into practice and it has helped lower the numbers, yet another level needs to be instituted to lower the number into reasonable levels. This level however cannot be instituted and monitored by the government, it has to come directly from every household and family. I believe that parents role-modeling to their young or soon-to-be drivers on how to be a responsible driver is the keystone to success. No matter how long driving schools stress the point of safe driving, if parents do not take it upon themselves to reinforce and exhibit safe driving habits to their children, such efforts from driving schools will be useless. I believe that if parents take the initiative to personally drive safely and exhibit proper driving skills to their children, we will see a great decline in distracted driving accidents and deaths. But if parents are not willing become responsible drivers themselves, they are setting a poor example for those in the car with them. It is the parents’ job to start implementing good driving habits to their children, but if such measures are not taken by the ordinary parent, it will be guaranteed that such numbers will never be fully controlled. Such education taken by the government and proper role-modeling from parents are priceless in the quest for reducing driving deaths.

In regards to the government’s role in driving education, I applaud states who implement laws in an effort to curb driving accidents. I believe that the government needs to continue to enforce such laws and continue to find better ways of reducing these statistics and numbers.

I have experienced the consequences and the stress due to irresponsible drivers. My experiences include people speeding up behind you at enormous rates in an effort to pass you, trying to pass bicyclists on a steep hill, cutting in front of you without signaling on a highway, and many more. Thankfully only one experience became a car accident. My mother was driving me someplace when we came to a stoplight. When the light turned green, we hesitated before going through the intersection due to cross traffic who had the right of way. However, the driver directly behind us did not see this and rear-ended us. It appeared that he was late for work and impatient. While this accident was extremely minor and, in fact, only damaged his car, such experience stressed and reinforced to me the importance of safe driving and paying attention to others.

I believe that the common saying, adapted from one of Gandhi’s speeches, to “be the change you wish to see in the world” is applicable for this topic. I have a loving mother who is like the parent who I have called upon earlier in this essay. She has been the role-model in driving and has expressed to me the importance of being one. She has also taught me the consequences for irresponsible driving. I have learned that poor driving not only endangers the driver, but everybody else who happens to be around. Poor driving can result in a lifelong consequence for that individual and the innocent. Because of this, even though I am seventeen years and am eligible for a driver’s licenses, I do not have one. This is due to my tendency of getting distracted. While it is convenient for me to get a driver’s license, such decision may have a negative impact on others around me. This reason in itself outweighs all gains in receiving a license. It is our family’s principles to not allow our convenience or our inconvenience be the one making decisions, but to take into consideration the well-being of others. Taking such a stance sometimes requires us to sacrifice our own wants for what is better for those around us. With this said, I am in full support of my mother’s decision and wholly agree that personal sacrifice in return for the safety of others is what we are all called to do. This is how I am doing my part in making driving safer for others.

Thank you for this opportunity to finance my college goals and degrees. I am thankful for such organizations who support students who are responsible and considerate. For those reading this essay, here is my message: Be the role-model whether it is for your children or for your friends. Do not endanger others due to your own choices. It all starts with you.