What Impaired driving means to me is how to operate a vehicle when your mind and body isn’t fully present to react fast enough nor to be able to have the responsibility to make it safe. It can be in any situation where your ability to focus or react can be very limited when referring to impaired driving. This could also mean using marijuana while driving, taking medication, exhaustion or even looking at your phone  and replying to a text message at a stoplight. Impairment can happen to anyone whenever something interferes with your focus or not having control within yourself behind the wheel can lead to a life-changing experience. Impaired driving can often be misunderstood because people don’t really understand what impairment really means. In some cases people identify as impaired by saying that  they are good to drive, that they can walk straight or  have conversations without slurring their words. Others can say sending one quick text or not having enough sleep isn’t a big deal. These programs focus on the legal side of things like alcohol limits and the fines for different tickets. However, they don’t always show the small changes that can make a difference by getting home safely or by causing a crash. Many people don’t realize that impairment doesn’t have to begin with being legally drunk or asleep. Several types of impairment that are common today are alcohol, texting, drugs, and fatigue. There are numerous stories and cases that alcohol remains the leading cause of impaired driving deaths which is crucial to me. It affects the slow reaction time and taking control behind the wheel. Drug related impairment is also increasing throughout because in many states  marijuana is legalized. Some people say marijuana is better, however, studies have shown that marijuana can blur vision, slow reflexes, and make it harder to focus on the road. It  can even make you drowsy and dizzy. The biggest distraction I would have to say would be texting and phone usage are the most common impairments among drivers today. Having a phone in front of your face has become such a natural part of people’s daily life and they forget how distracting it can be looking down for at least two seconds while traveling long periods of time can be very frightening and lose focus instantly. Being fatigued is another underestimated danger because of how exhausted a person is they are not fully aware of what’s happening. Studies have also shown that being awake for over 18 hours can affect driving compared to having a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. My  personal story that changed how I view impaired driving happened 10 years ago where my uncle was driving home from work and he got into a serious car accident where the car flipped multiple times on the freeway and it was all because he looked at his phone for five seconds sending a text while driving and hit the middle intersection of the ramp going on a 75 mph. Unfortunately, he did pass away instantly. The worst part is we were all on vacation in California while this happened. He was supposed to go with us but he unfortunately couldn’t make it because he had to work and couldn’t take the time off. My dad got a phone call saying that he was in a severe car accident and didn’t know if he was gonna make it. I remember my dad’s face was in shock. My heart completely dropped to my stomach and we were all so incredibly scared to see what was going to happen next. Now I take driving much more seriously and by having no distractions while I am behind a vehicle. To think that everything can be okay and have your life be taken away in a split second all because of a text that could have waited  when you are to your destination. Drivers education and traffic school programs can definitely make a big difference in preventing impaired driving but only when they go beyond just rolling in penalties. I feel like the most effective programs are the ones that show real life consequences and unsafe driving when students watch videos, listen to survivors, or hear families are affected by this. It can change their mindset by being interactive activities like using driving stimulators, impairment goggles. These lessons stay with me longer than memorizing laws. Personally, I do believe that everyone has a role to play in preventing impaired driving. Especially teens.