2023 Drivers Ed Essay Contest

Driving is a very big responsibility and should not be taken lightly. Vehicles traveling at any speed over even five miles an hour can cause a fatal accident if the driver is not paying attention. Drivers’ education is important because the lessons that are taught are intended to instruct young drivers on how to drive safely and responsibly. However, these lessons are very long and can be boring, which causes students to lose interest and barely pay attention. Part of this is due to how young people function with shorter attention spans, but part of the issue also lies with the instructors, who may not be trying to make it engaging and enjoyable. This is very unsafe as all the information that is presented is important for the written test to gain a driving permit, and the road exam to gain a license.

The simplest answer to, “What steps can be taken to reduce the number of driving-related deaths?” would be to increase the amount of police patrol vehicles. If this were to happen, it would require an increase in support for the police department and an increase in taxes. It is almost certain that most citizens in America, or any country for that matter, would not like to pay more taxes. Another way to prevent traffic deaths is to continue engineering safer cars. This could look like automatic seatbelts, more sensitive AI systems to detect traffic and assist in braking, or even self-driving cars, which I believe are on the horizon. I know that a lot of people are skeptical about fully independent cars, but I heard an analogy one time about self-driving cars that reveals the actuality of the driving situation. The gist of the story is this: Would you rather have automatic doors at the grocery store or have a teenager who does not know how to use the door very well and a person who is under the influence operating the doors? It is a very simplistic way to look at it, but it exposes the truth of what is really going on.

I have been fortunate enough to only have experienced one accident. I was young, around 11 or 12 years old. We were driving on the highway and my mom changed lanes to avoid a vehicle on the shoulder, and even though she was going fairly slow and being cautious, she didn’t see the vehicle in front of her that had stopped and rear-ended that vehicle. I have seen several of my friends and relatives check their phones while they are driving, sometimes to set up maps on the fly, or just to check texts. I have also witnessed people drive recklessly when they are caught up in their emotions, whether they are good or bad emotions. Another factor that can affect safe driving is when one drives a vehicle that they haven’t driven before or are unfamiliar with. The different vehicle would have a different ride height, width, and blind spots, which can cause complications when maneuvering in parking lots or even on the road.

One way to greatly increase driving safety is to make sure that your phone is set on “Do Not Disturb” or completely turned off. Another action you could take would be to not listen to music or talk shows while driving because those cause you to not be 100% focused on your car and the cars around you. You also need to make sure that you aren’t diverting your attention with anything like eating, applying make-up, or searching for something in the back seat. If there is something that really needs your attention you could pull off to the shoulder or take an exit ramp and deal with the situation once the car is stopped and there isn’t any danger of you accidentally getting into an accident.

Parents play a big role in how their children drive, as the parents are the ones the children get to see drive the most. It is important for the adults that are driving when the children are in their young teenage years to put all the safe practices to use, as it will rub off on their children and hopefully make them safer and better at driving.

One possibly overlooked benefit to driving safely and responsibly is that your vehicle will last you longer. It is easier on the car when you are not being aggressive with acceleration, braking, and turns. Driving calmly and at moderate speeds will help your vehicle last longer and require fewer repairs, which will be better for your wallet.