Drivers ed Initiative Award

Driver
Education Initiative Award

As
a new driver on the road, I notice everything. I see those who fail
to use their turn signals, weave on highways, and accelerate well
beyond the speed limit. When you’re new, you’re on your best
behavior. But soon that fear turns into comfort. You think you’re
invincible and it’ll never happen to you. But the reality is, it
most definitely can. According to the National Safety Council, almost
39,000 people lost their lives to car accidents across the United
States in 2019. All of the hours spent in drivers ed after
school and in the car with your parents seem to go out the window
quite quickly. But the reality is, what we learned in those moments
is lifesaving.

Having
recently been through the drivers ed curriculum, I’m
familiar with half of the time spent in the car and the other half in
the classroom. It’s built this way because you can’t do without
learning and you can’t learn without doing. Currently, car
accidents are the leading cause of death amongst teenagers. This
course exists to learn the basics of road safety, vehicle control,
maneuvers, and as much preparation as possible for the unexpected. I
previously mentioned how many individuals succumbed to car accidents;
however, this is a 2% decrease from 2018.

While
drivers ed is the first step, there’s more to it. With
more drivers on the road, we must be held accountable. It’s up to
us to give the road and periphery our undivided attention. This
ensure fastening one’s seatbelt, minimizing distractions in the
car—putting the phone away and avoiding eating, ensuring passengers
are fully secured, etc. The National Safety Council estimates that
25% of car accidents in the United States are caused by texting and
driving each year. Now that’s only one of the possible distractions
that I previously mentioned.

As a child, my first encounter
with a car accident hit close to home. I was not in the vehicle, but
my sister was traveling to a school event with friends. She had done
everything right—completed the courses, practiced, ensured everyone
in the vehicle was properly seated, and continued on. She was waiting
in an intersection, when the light turned yellow. It seemed clear, so
she began a left turn. Someone in a hurry failed to stop at a stop
sign, in hopes of beating the red light. My sister happened to be in
the way, resulting in a brutal accident. I arrived at the scene and
both my sister and the other operator were taken to the emergency
room. Seeing that was a shock.

To
ensure my own safety, and that of everyone around me, it’s my
responsibility to control what I can control. That means minimizing
distractions, practicing safe driving habits, and updating myself on
the rules of the road. We have the power to use vehicles as a means
of quick and easy transportation, or as a weapon. I choose to be a
safe driver.