Drivers Ed Scholarship Essay

Ever since the automobile was invented in 1886 we have had car accidents due to irresponsible driving as well as other factors. I think many of us forget that when we are driving we are in control of a 4,000-pound piece of machinery. I believe many of the accidents that occur with vehicles are due to poor education or poor decision-making.

One of the first steps we as a society can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to better educate the people. The importance of driver education cannot be stressed enough. Education on driver safety is the number one way in decreasing the number or car related deaths per year. Just like students go to school to learn, driving school is necessary to becoming a safe driver and decrease the risk dangerous drivers have on those around them. I think that the driving schools we have in place now are great but the number of people completing the course online has grown tremendously. I believe that those who enroll in an online drivers ed course do not pay attention or absorb nearly as much of the information as they would at an in-person class. At home we have the distraction of the TV, being on our phones, and even eating food takes away focus from the learning at hand. I think that requiring the class to be in person will help with this issue and increase driver education.

Unfortunately, no matter where people take their driving classes there will always be reckless drivers who are unaware of their surroundings and drive irresponsibly. It is these people that contribute most to driving-related deaths. I think in order to reduce the number of driving-related deaths we need to have harsher punishments for those who do choose to drive recklessly and perhaps even make the driving test require a higher score to pass. If we stop these people in the beginning by not letting them get their licenses due to their poor driving abilities this will erase the harm they would then do out on the roads and highways. Reckless and dangerous driving is very scary and nothing to be played with.

The number of car related deaths in the US alone has increased to 12%. Although I have never been in a car accident I have a close friend who was in a near-death car crash experience. Even more, the fact that my other friend and I were the first to the scene will forever scar and haunt me. I have never been in a situation like that before. My head and thoughts were all over the place. I wasn’t even in the mood to camp with my friends that night after it had happened. This was by far the most extreme car accident I have personally witnessed. However, it was a good lesson for me to take away and a reminder that cars are dangerous. Living in a mountainous enviroment all my life means I have seen some insane crashes and car accidents. In the wintertime it’s common to witness flipped semis, cars in ditches, and people getting rear ended. Not only is weather dangerous but the lack of skill people have driving in mountains poses as a big issue in our community. My great uncle was run off the road pulling a trailer by another car a few years ago. Whether it be that the person was on their phone, not paying attention, or just a bad driver it is important we seek to lessen the amount of bad drivers there are on roads. We all need to drive safely and restrain ourselves from being reckless.

Personally, I take steps to be a safer driver for myself and others by obeying speed limits, driving slower in poor weather conditions, and understanding how to control my car in the case of loss of traction or sketchy situations. Growing up in the mountains, where winter conditions are common has taught me a lot as a younger driver. Knowing how to drive in these scenarios is critical for every driver to be safe and reduce the number of deaths that are accident related. If my parents have taught me anything about being a good driver it is to be aggressive. Aggressive not in the sense of recklessness but the act of being aware of your surroundings at all times and anticipating what other drivers may do. This has saved me on more than one occasion already and I think it is one of the most valuable skills a good driver should have.