Dependable Driving: A Movement

Dependable
Driving: A Movement

The
importance of drivers ed in reducing the number of deaths as a
result of driving is a very important project that I believe needs
more public attention. When we look at statistics that tell us that
more people are losing their lives today in vehicular accidents than
soldiers at war in Afghanistan, we need to realize that something has
to be done to combat this series of unfortunate events. I have
personally been involved in an accident at an intersection and no one
was harmed, but it really affected me as a driver. Although I was not
at fault in causing the accident, I have become a more careful and
aware driver since it happened. I should not have had to have been
involved in an accident to be as safe as possible, and I have
educated the people around me as much as I can to believe the same.
My mother was also involved in an accident in which her car was
totaled and many of my friends have totaled their cars in accidents
as well.

When
I started seeing more and more of my peers in high school being
involved in vehicular accidents, I decided I had to do something.
Many young lives have been ruined or emotionally and physically
stunted due to car accidents, and unfortunately many of these
teenagers I know personally that roam my same hallway every day at
school. I believe many steps can be taken to avoid the ever
increasing death toll in car accidents and I have already taken
measures to help others become safer on the road.

In
the spring of 2018 my Valliant Student Council ran for district
secretary with the platform of Texting and Driving Awareness and we
won. As district secretary, we hosted the 2020 District 4 Spring
Conference which included several informational segments,
decorations, and accessories that were against texting and driving.
At our conference the VHS Drama Club provided a list of statistics
and our keynote speaker informed our district about the costs of
texting and driving and distracted driving. One out of four car
accidents are caused by texting and driving, and even more by
distracted and impaired driving. We provided anti texting and driving
thumb bands and bracelets to every student that attended the
conference which were graciously donated by People Against Distracted
Driving (PADD). We also held a Valentine’s Day matchmaker
fundraiser in which we donated all of the proceeds to PADD and sold
scrunchies at our conference that will go towards PADD also.

Teenagers
like me are starting to see each other unnecessarily get hurt in car
accidents and we want it to stop. That’s why my entire council ran
for district secretary, and that is why we hosted spring conference.
I hope that our conference saved even one young life from the pain
that a car accident can cause. We want to help, and we’ve started
in our aid these past few years to create a movement of change. If
more and more teenagers like us will stand up and say it’s not cool
to text and drive and it’s not cool to drive impaired, then more
and more will start to listen.

I
hope our council inspires others to join the movement in safe
driving, and I hope you consider me as a recipient of your
scholarship. With this award I can continue my platform as a member
of The University of Oklahoma’s President’s Leadership Class and
help to inspire teenagers not only in my district, but statewide.