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The Importance of Staying Safe on the Roads

Posted on Nov 25, 2025 by Carson George

At The Advocates, we believe that education is one of the strongest tools for creating safer, more compassionate communities. 

Every year, we award two $1,000 scholarships (one for the Fall term and one for the Spring term) to support students who share our commitment to improving lives through awareness. The Advocates Law Scholarship is our way of investing in the next generation of changemakers who think critically about safety, justice, and community well-being. We are proud to announce the Spring 2025 Scholarship Winner: Meggie Ngo, whose thoughtful essay, “The Importance of Staying Safe on the Roads,” delivers the importance of staying alert behind the wheel and how small, mindful actions can make a lasting difference on the road.

A 2023 Forbes analysis ranked Houston 23rd worst U.S. city for driver quality with a
total of 10.8 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. Living in Houston, I was able to personally
experience how distracted and reckless driving affects not just statistics but everyday lives on the
neighborhoods and highways I drive by daily. The most common causes of motor vehicles stem
from human error, mostly distracted driving from the use of a phone, eating, or multitasking.
Other common factors such as speeding, fatigue, and driving under the influence are also
significant contributions to roadway injuries.

I once experienced a car accident during one of my driving lessons with Pearland Driving
School. Although I was sitting behind the passenger seat, the crash happened because another
driver did not carefully look both ways before making a turn due to multitasking behind a wheel.
Thankfully, no one was injured. However, that lesson which was supposed to be safe taught me
that accidents can happen anywhere and can be prevented by focused driving while being alert of
your surroundings.

Prevention requires both self-accountability and public policy. For example, I live in
Houston and have driven across the city many times. I noticed a handful of drivers that were
2 distracted on their phones despite driving through the bustling highways of downtown. During
visits to California, I noticed more visible law enforcement of phone-use laws where drivers
were given a warning or fined from simply holding a phone. Small differences such as stricter
enforcement and public education campaigns play a huge role in reducing the risks of distracted
driving.

There are numerous ways to promote safer driving among your peers. For example, if
you are not driving you can hold your driver accountable if they are noticeably distracted.
Friends of mine got into an accident because the passengers in the vehicle were distracted by a
mosquito. One person pointed out the insect, and everyone got distracted by killing it instead of
the road. They crashed into a streetlamp, and luckily no one else was around to get hurt. Small
moments like those emphasize the importance of staying focused, calm, and aware of your
surroundings to dodge avoidable accidents.

Therefore, most motor crashes stem from distracted driving, either from the driver or a
third party and are often preventable. The importance of remaining self-aware and holding
yourself accountable to avoid risks to yourself and to the people around you are critical steps in
keeping the roads safe. By modeling safe driving habits and choosing to speak up, we can help
reduce the risk of accidents and protect lives of our own and others.

Heckler, A. (2024, February 26). Houston swerves onto new list of U.S. cities with the worst
drivers. CultureMap Houston.
https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/worst-drivers-forbes-austin-distracted/

If you’re passionate about making your community safer and inspired by stories like Meggie’s, we encourage you to apply for our next scholarship cycle. The Advocates Law Scholarship is open twice a year to current or prospective college students across the United States who want to make a real difference. Follow us on social media to stay informed about deadlines, topics, and announcements.

 Keep your voice ready. The next winning idea could be yours.