“My Mom’s Daughter —- A Driver’s Ed Essay”

Every day people die from being on the road. It is as unfortunate as it is true. It is so important to stay focused on the road, to pay attention to what professionals are telling you, and to persuade your friends and family to follow down the same, safe path that you are.

My mom is a woman of many experiences and stories —- her first crush, all of the parties she attended, and even petty fights she got into as a child. However, she has one experience that will always stick with me. The year was 2005, and my twin sister and I had just been born. One of the happiest weeks of her life. My mom was finally able to drive around after being constricted to a bed as the result of me being a c-section, so naturally she did. Minutes into driving she was t-boned by a car that unfortunately was violating the rules of traffic at the time. She was put right back into the hospital, a joyful time turned into a dark one. She was in therapy for months and it took her awhile to regain herself. Imagine how this would have gone if the driver was drunk. Now imagine how this would have gone if the driver was educated, and willing to follow the rules. My mom is here for me today, being loving and understanding every step of the way, and she is the reason why I find driving safety to be so significant. She urges me everyday to be a safe, mindful, and defensive driver, despite the distractions. I am extremely grateful of all she has taught me, and even when it seems strict at times, I understand why. She is why I am urging you to do the same.

Driver education is not just put out there for fun, listening to what people and readings have to say about the road is actually important. I was in driving school for a month, and without it I would have never gotten my license. It taught me all of the rules, signs, road pavings, what to do in a crash, and even what to do if your brakes were to stop working. Driver education is the reason why I’m the safest driver possible right now. When you pay attention and follow the rules, you are reducing the number of deaths alone.

Cellphones are a huge innovation. They tell us where to go, the latest trends, if that bump on your neck is urgent, and your favorite recipes. The best thing it does for us is keep us in touch with our loved ones. However, it is the biggest distraction of them all when it comes to driving — especially for teens. According to NHTSA, 400 people die a year from texting and driving. This number should be zero because texting and driving is a personal choice. This is your reminder that if you are texting while driving, you might not be alive another day to see those loved ones that you text and call. If you aren’t killed, then you will still be confined to a cell for most of your life. Either way you are missing out on this beautiful thing we call life.

This essay is how I am helping the average person everyday. My hope is that the reader can learn from my experiences and take some inspiration from it. Hopefully if you can relate to my mothers story then it will urge you to do better, or even tell a friend. Then, that friend will tell their friend. It is all about the chain reaction. When people see one person doing good, it will make them want to do good. There will always be those people that refuse to drive safely or pay attention on the road, but don’t let that stop you from being a defensive driver. Recognize when you need to allow somebody to go around you or to find another route to avoid them. While they don’t intend on making a difference, you sure can.

I am not a perfect driver. When my cell phone rings, I tend to look over. I get distracted with the radio and sometimes I miss speed limit signs. However, I am improving and learning everyday, and that’s all I can tell anyone else to do. Building habits is one of the vital steps to being a better driver. Practice letting your family know you’re driving so nobody will contact you, and putting your phone on silent while you drive. Practice turning on your favorite songs before you start the car. Practice keeping an eye out for any signs, and speed limits. It takes 21 days to build a habit, and 21 days to save your life or another person’s life.