On August 14th, 2021, just 4 years ago the life of my first cousin Kathleen was cut short due to being in the car with an impaired driver behind the wheel. He was under the influence of drugs and went off the side of the road down a bank and the vehicle rolled over, killing my cousin almost immediately and she was the only one who didn’t make it out the car alive when they were found. Everyday I still see my Aunt grieve about having to bury her daughter at such a young age, she struggles to get over the pain and wanted to resort to drinking to forget about what happened, but then she remembered what killed her daughter to begin with and stepped away and came to my family for help. This freak accident also left my cousins child, who was also present in the vehicle, with no mother to grow up with. As she gets older she will have to go everyday with no real parent to look too, besides her fosters. This incident in my family has opened mine, and others eyes to the dangers of what being under the influence while driving can do to someone’s life, family, and friends.

I think impaired driving to me, may differ from what others see as impaired driving. To me, impaired driving can be anything from the use of drugs and alcohols, to even just taking some cold medicine before leaving your house. The range of what I would consider impaired driving is a very vast majority of circumstances. I think impaired driving is misunderstood as most would consider it being under the influence. But in reality, other things such as texting and driving, driving when you are sick, driving after taking certain cold medicine, driving when you are tired and even driving when overly emotional or even injured in some cases. I can say firsthand that I’ve had my own experience driving impaired, as I had an accident due to falling asleep behind the wheel when I first began driving. I was late for a morning basketball practice and woke up 5 minutes before my practice, and my school is 20 minutes away from my house. I attempted to rush out of the house and get there as soon as possible, I had almost made it and then suddenly I was in a ditch on the side of the road. This experience had taught me to wake up early and always make sure I am prepared and to put my safety first, it also had showed me impaired driving can have so many different meanings.

I think the most common forms of impaired driving today are texting and fatigue. Especially texting as our phones have become a basic necessity in our lives today. Everyone in the world has a phone, and there used for all kinds of different purposes, but the main thing a phone is used for is communication. Phones are an addicting thing to some people, and they just can’t wait to check their text. This also becomes a distraction in the car as people can be to fixed on their phone, and not focused enough on the road. This causes people to make poor decisions and have slowed reaction time when they look up and realize they are about to crash. They take quick glances at the road, then back to their phone, then back to the road which is extremely dangerous for themselves and others who are on the road with them. All it takes is one second with your eyes off the road for everything to go wrong and end with an accident. When they realize there about to end up in an accident they try to Swerve or slam on their brakes to avoid an accident or injury but most of the time it is either too late or they end up in a worse position.

Driver’s education and traffic school courses play a crucial role in changing attitudes and behaviors toward impaired driving by combining practical instruction, emotional impact, and real-world consequences. These programs don’t just teach the mechanics of driving. they focus on personal responsibility and decision-making. In driver’s education, students are exposed to the dangers of impaired driving through videos, simulations, and discussions that show how alcohol and drugs affect reaction time, judgment, and coordination. Seeing real-life stories of victims and offenders often creates an emotional connection that makes the risks feel personal, not abstract. Traffic school courses, especially those assigned after a violation, reinforce accountability by confronting participants with the direct results of unsafe behavior, such as injuries, fatalities, and legal penalties. What makes these programs effective in real-world situations is their focus on behavioral change, not just rule memorization. Many include interactive activities and reflective exercises that encourage drivers to think about their own habits, attitudes, and peer influences. They also promote alternatives to impaired driving, such as designating a sober driver, using rideshare services, or planning ahead before drinking. By combining education, self-reflection, and emotional engagement, driver’s education and traffic school help create long-term awareness and responsible habits, leading to safer roads and more conscientious drivers.

The role I can play in preventing others from impaired driving is sharing my first hand experience of fatigue behind the wheel, and the loss of a family member; I can tell them what it’s like to realize you just crashed your first car, or even any car in general and the wave of fear, nervousness and anxiety can take over. The fear of the amount of money it may cost or if your parents will be angry and upset. It’s not fun to have to go through this experience in your life. And the grief of losing a family member showed me, and can hopefully show others what driving under the influence can do to a person. Using drugs behind the wheel in any circumstances is unacceptable and should never be done. It is better to stay safe and don’t put such harmful things into your body, but if you do; just don’t get behind the wheel of vehicle when doing so because you don’t know who you will hurt or what will happen when your senses and awareness are not working to their full capabilities. I would hope to influence others not to do anything behind the wheel that will affect their focus on the road, there are always many reasons as to why someone had an accident in the car, sometimes they can’t control what happens, but when they can control, is there choices and ability to do what is best for them to be behind the wheel of a Vehicle.