Driver’s Education Scholarship

Driver’s education serves the purpose of providing knowledge on how to drive safely and reduce deaths on the road. But, can we honestly say we have been applying that knowledge behind the wheel? There are so many different ways to be safe on the road.

Driver’s education is a crucial element to safe driving and “reducing the number of fatalities resulting from driving-related accidents.” Based on my experience, driver’s ed is a good course for beginner drivers; when they do go out on the road, they will be aware and prepared for the things that may occur on the road. They say driving is a privilege, but it is also a reward for those who have earned that privilege. Driver’s education covers just about everything that needs to be covered during the time behind the wheel. Think about it, giving the new drivers a chance out on the road without any lessons taught could lead to even more deaths on the road than there already are.

Our civilization kills 1.35 million people in automobile-related car crashes, it’s a tragedy, but not an accident. Road tragedies are preventable, and the evidence is that some countries have higher rates of accidents than others. The strategies to reduce accidents go under different names, such as Vision Zero to the Safe System, but they are not really effective. Most crashes have multiple points of failure. If one of the failures was to pay more attention, that would be one thing but that’s not always the case. When considering a vehicle on vehicle collision, there are five main factors here: the driver, the other driver, the vehicle, the road, and the environment. Other vehicles may have a role too, even if they weren’t in the crash directly. Penalty for distractions and misjudgements should not be death. No one deserves to die over a momentary lapse of awareness. Driving is a hard skill and it’s easy to make mistakes on the road. There are severe crashes each year globally, most cause injuries and can be life-changing, if not life ending.

The first of October in 2016 is a date I’ll never forget. I remember riding on the highway to get to my house, it had rained earlier that day and the road was slippery. My mother, my two sisters and I stopped at a stop sign. Out of nowhere we heard the sound of rubber screeching against the pavement and we were jerked forward before slamming back against our seats. I remember panicking to the point where I started sobbing alongside my little sister. My mother gets out of the car and my big sister turns to ask if we are okay, to which she got no answer due to the pure shock we were in. The lady that hit us was bleeding on her chin, she was in such distress when she figured out my mother had kids in the car and started apologizing. We had gone to the house later that day, I remember freaking out even more. I was later informed that the woman’s dog was in continuous motion in the car and jumped in front of her steering wheel and she wasn’t paying attention. I will never forget this tragedy, not just because of the trauma but because of the possibilities that could have come with it. Me and my family were lucky but I can’t say that for all.

I recently got my permit, I was eager to drive long before I got it but I am very much aware of the responsibilities that come with driving. I have my moments where I get excited and be so eager to drive but my parents remind me that there is no rush and that even though I have my permit, I still need to be cautious and alert while driving. I am constantly reminded that driving is no joke, especially since most crashes are caused by drivers my age. I will do all that I can to contribute to the safety of the road. I will continue/try to listen to my superiors when it comes to driving on the road. I will be alert while driving and follow as many rules in the book I can. I should not only be considerate of my safety but I should also be aware of the fact that other lives are at stake as well. I will minimize the distractions and stay clear of all the possibilities that could unfold on the road.

Driving is one of the most dangerous privileges to endure but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. We as a community should be more aware of what goes on pertaining to the road. We should use our knowledge of the road more wisely; not only is your life at stake but other lives are at hand as well.