When most people hear the phrase “impaired driving,” they think of alcohol or drugs. But to me, impaired driving means any moment when a driver is not fully present mentally, physically, or emotionally. Distraction, exhaustion, anger, stress, substances it all creates impairment. I didn’t learn this from a textbook. I learned it from life.

            
           Growing up, my mom struggled with substance use. As a child, I didn’t understand what “impairment” meant, but I felt the consequences of it. Some days were unpredictable. Some moments were confusing. I sensed something was wrong long before I had the words for it. As I got older, I began to understand how substances can blur judgment, slow reaction time, and completely change a person’s awareness. Realizing someone I loved struggled with these things made the dangers of impairment painfully real. It taught me early that impaired driving doesn’t just affect the driver it affects everyone around them.

So when I turned sixteen, I didn’t see driving as a thrill. While most teens were excited for freedom, blasting music, and late-night drives, I felt something heavier. Driving felt like responsibility, not independence. And even though teens in my area were supposed to follow the 9-month rule before driving freely, a lot of people I knew ignored it. They drove with friends, stayed out late, and acted like nothing could ever happen to them. Watching that scared me, because I knew how quickly one risky moment could turn into a tragedy.

What scared me even more was how unprepared I was after finishing my own driver’s education. My instructor never once took me onto the highway. Not once. Instead, he had me running errands with him, driving to McDonald’s while he took calls and barely paid attention. He never taught me how to pump gas, merge into traffic, or handle stressful moments behind the wheel. I knew how to back into a spot, but I didn’t feel ready for real roads, real speeds, or real responsibilities. And yet… I still passed. That moment opened my eyes. Driving is a privilege, but we treat it far too loosely.

During COVID, it got even worse. Some of my friends took their entire driving test in a parking lot. No highway. No traffic. No real challenges. They circled a few cones and walked out with a license. It terrified me knowing that unprepared teens were being sent onto roads where one mistake can cost a life.

Impairment today takes many forms. Texting is one of the biggest those few seconds looking down can become the difference between life and death. Fatigue is another danger people underestimate; being exhausted can impair a driver just as much as alcohol. And then there’s emotional impairment, especially road rage. In my community, a man was shot and killed during a road-rage incident. One moment of anger. One reckless reaction. Two lives destroyed forever. That tragedy made me realize that sometimes the most dangerous thing on the road isn’t a substance it’s a driver who lets their emotions take control.

This is why real; meaningful driver’s education matters so much. It shouldn’t be a quick box to check. It should prepare young people with actual experience: highway driving, pumping gas, navigating busy roads, handling stress, making calm decisions, and learning how different forms of impairment affect safety. The most impactful lessons aren’t worksheets they’re real stories, raw testimonies, and demonstrations that show how quickly lives can change.

Despite the flaws in my own training, I made a promise to myself to be a careful driver. Every time I get behind the wheel, my phone goes on “Do Not Disturb.” If I’m upset or overwhelmed, I take a moment before driving. If I’m tired, I wait. When I’m a passenger, I speak up if someone reaches for their phone or starts speeding. Awkwardness is nothing compared to regret.

I also try to influence the people around me. Because of my mom’s struggles, the stories I grew up hearing, the tragedies in my community, and the failures of driver’s ed, I take the responsibility of driving seriously. I encourage my friends to slow down, follow the rules, and think before acting. I want to be the reason someone chooses safety over convenience.

Impaired driving whether from substances, distraction, exhaustion, inexperience, or emotion is one of the most preventable causes of death in this country. That truth is heartbreaking because it means so many people should still be alive today.

                  Being “in the driver’s seat” means valuing every life around you. It means choosing to protect yourself and others, even when it’s inconvenient. It means understanding that every decision behind the wheel matters.

And that is something I will never take lightly.