Defensive Driving- a lesson that can be costly

DMV
SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY

Defensive
Driving: a lesson that can be costly

By:
Emma Arthurs

My dad was extremely
serious when teaching me to drive. He never let me listen to music,
and had me verbally pronounce what I was doing and what I saw while
driving. Still, I didn’t take him seriously enough because when I
got my license I had crashed my car two months later. Luckily it was
only a fender bender, but it taught me that things can get out of
control if you aren’t attentive and defensive all the time. It is
extremely crucial to increase drivers ed to prevent deaths by
driving because without awareness and honesty of the tragedies
driving can bring drivers, and new drivers more importantly, they
will skim over defensiveness and attentiveness and be caught up in
the freedoms and fun driving allows people to have. Honestly, I
believe regulation of passengers in cars, for new drives, is an
extremely important step for reducing deaths by driving. Crowded cars
are difficult to focus in because of noise, people, and other
distractions- phones. I know when I started driving, and especially
after my accident, I took time to drive alone in my car to be
comfortable and know I have to be in control before I can let others
trust me. Personally, I think holding other people accountable is
important for making the roads safer. For example, I can make sure
everyone in my car and my friends’ cars have seat belts on, and don’t
drive with their phones on. Above everything though, being a
defensive driver is the best way to keep yourself and others safe. I
know if I am defensive I can trust my driving to keep me safe, even
when others don’t make their own safety a priority- because I am in
control of what my car is doing. Teaching defensive driving is a tool
that helped me become the trustworthy driver I am. I built trust with
my parents after my accident by showing them my driving is
trustworthy. Everyday I get on the road I make a choice not to get on
my phone, and stay focused. Driving is extremely fun and gives young
people immense freedom, but without defensiveness it is just
carelessness: that is why teaching defense and focus is a top
priority of mine that I think can help prevent deaths caused by
driving.