I have always needed a car to get anywhere important. I have lived in the country all my life, which was miles away from any town, store, or restaurant. The distance was impossible to walk in a reasonable amount of time. Thus, vehicles have become vital for my success and adventures. However, many people I know, including myself, often fail to take the dangers of the road seriously. We may divert our attention to our phones, drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or doze off behind the wheel. In any case, impaired driving is a growing threat that can turn a regular drive into a nightmare. Fortunately, through educational courses, the total damage has been reduced. Furthermore, we should begin to hold each other accountable when we are at the wheel. By providing and enforcing educational courses and enforcing rules on each other, the number of impaired driving cases will decrease.

 As a teenager myself, I have seen first-hand the effects of impaired driving among my peers. Several friends of mine have cheated death that they had nearly brought upon themselves. In one specific case, my friend had left a party and driven drunk in his 1999 Lexus. Within that twenty-minute drive, he had decided he would see just how fast he could go on the blacktop. He managed to hit one hundred sixteen miles per hour before rolling into a nearby yard. In the aftermath, he was left with barely a scratch, but his car had been completely destroyed. Through all our stress and worries, we were relieved that he ended up alive. We considered it a miracle that he was still standing. As a result of his actions, he has been charged with two hundred hours of community service. These consequences have hopefully taught him a lifelong lesson. As an attentive driver, people understand how much danger they could end up in and drive with caution. However, when a driver is drunk, they lull themselves into a sense of complete safety or even immortality. Drunk driving may be the most notorious risk to people my age. Although impaired driving is dangerous, I believe that educational programs are a step in the right direction for combating this issue.

 I believe safety classes do a great job of instilling a sense of caution into young drivers. By bringing us awareness of the potential damage we could cause, we drive with purpose. While some high schools offer driver education courses, many do not. I believe that these courses should still be required for all students. These courses may introduce or refresh students on the importance of care behind the wheel. This would give new drivers a start on proper driving ethics. While I have had friends who were required to take these courses after a serious accident, I find it to be partially redundant. I believe that enforcing these courses prior to accidents, in addition to requiring them afterward, would be overall more beneficial. In addition to these courses, people should be proactive in helping their fellow drivers with the do’s and do not’s of driving.

 I am always putting my best foot forward to be a role model to my peers. While I am not a party type of person myself, most of my friends are. They constantly go out to drink and smoke in various places. I have made efforts to remind them that they could call me at any time to come pick them up. I have sworn to them that I could be their sober chauffeur at any given moment. In addition, any chance I get to stop one of them from driving home after our hangouts, I will take it. I want them to know that taking a while to cool down afterward is much better than taking someone’s life on the road because you got impatient. I advise that others do this with their friends. Every group of friends needs someone to keep a level head and look out for them when they are impaired. Just by being proactive, anyone can prevent a life-altering accident.

 Impaired driving is a completely preventable issue that continues to plague our society. It has destroyed vehicles, lives, and families. Unfortunately, there is always more than one victim. It shatters the futures of aspiring dreamers and haunts the lives of their loved ones. While cars are required in our evolving society, we can take measures to ensure that we drive properly. Through educational courses and peer-to-peer discussions, we can minimize the damage of impaired driving.