Name: Sophie Van Steen
From: Magnolia, Texas
Votes: 0
Without the right
knowledge or behavior on driver safety, lives can be impacted
forever. Driving is one of the most consequential activities we
engage in. It is critical for new drivers to be aware of all of the
risks associated with driving. Drivers ed, whether in class or
online, is the first building block towards being a safe driver. The
right training provides drivers with the skill set needed to help
avoid accidents or to minimize loss of life and property when the
uncontrollable occurs.
New drivers have a
tendency to feel invincible on the road and don’t believe it would
ever be them in the accident. Texting, talking on the phone,
interacting with passengers, blaring music, and a driver’s state of
mind are all contributors to distracted drivers. Teenagers do not
have a full appreciation of the risks of driving until close ones or
themselves are impacted by an accident…unfortunately, this
realization can come too late. Constant reinforcement and role
modeling of the rules and good behaviors of driving to new drivers
can reduce the number of deaths on the road. Every driver has the
responsibility of modeling how to follow the rules and practice safe
behavior.
One of the most
common irresponsible behaviours I have witnessed from my parents and
friends is the constant checking of their phone. The few seconds it
takes to glance at a phone or a dashboard can make the difference
between life or death. Another common unsafe behavior is speeding.
Just as being distracted by a phone, speeding can take seconds away
from being able to react or avoid an accident.
To be a safer
driver, I can make sure all settings are properly adjusted before
driving, put my phone on silent, keep my music at a reasonable level,
always stay alert, remember the rules, and always try to anticipate
what drivers around me will do and how I would react. I will not only
remind myself of road safety, but also other drivers and passengers.
Recently I was driving on a frontage road when someone was exiting
the freeway not paying attention and came over into my lane without
looking. I had to quickly switch lanes to avoid an accident and from
this experience, I have learned important steps to take in being a
safer driver. You cannot only think about yourself, but watch and
anticipate the actions of drivers around you and have a backup plan.
Thank you for the
opportunity to apply for this scholarship and hopefully considering
myself a candidate.
