To me, "impaired driving" means getting behind the wheel when you aren't fully in control of yourself. It's not just about drinking alcohol, even though that is what most people think. Impairment can happen from drugs, being extremely tired, or even distractions like texting and driving. I used to think that once someone passed a driving test or traffic school, they automatically knew how to drive safely, even if they had been drinking or were too tired. But the truth is, knowing the rules doesn't stop your body from reacting slower or your judgment from being clouded. That's what makes impaired driving so dangerous and why it is often misunderstood.
Alcohol is the type of impairment that I have seen up close personally. My biological father would drink a lot, and a lot of my memories were sitting in the car with him after he had been drinking. He thought he was smart because he could pass any sobriety test the police gave him, so he didn't think twice about driving with me and my siblings in the car. I remember him laughing when he swerved or sped through intersections, acting like he was in a racing game. Meanwhile, I would grip the seat, my stomach twisting, scared we might crash at any second. Alcohol slows down reaction time, messes with decision-making, and makes people take risks they would never take while sober. I saw that in him every time we got in the car together.

Drugs are another problem, even prescription medication. I've heard stories of people dozing off behind the wheel or zoning out, which is just as dangerous as drinking. Texting while driving is huge for teens and adults alike. People think they can handle it, but even a few seconds spent looking at your phone can make you miss a stop sign or make you hit another car. Fatigue is also common. Driving when you're exhausted is basically the same as driving drunk. Your reactions are slower, and you think you can think clearly, even though you can't, which is scary when you're responsible for the safety of the other individuals in your car.
Experiencing my biological father's drinking and driving made impaired driving reality to me in a way that nothing else could have. I remember one night when he had been drinking he insisted on driving us home. He was swerving between lanes, speeding, and drifting on turns. I was terrified so I held on to the seat with one hand and held on to my sister with the other. I was trying to keep her safe more than myself. I could not do anything but hold on and pray that we made it home safely. That night has stuck with me. I promised myself that I would never put anyone else in the situation, and I have thought about it every time I have been in a car since then. 

Hearing other people's stories have also shaped my understanding. A few years back one of my friends told me about a cousin of theirs who got into a serious crash because they were texting while driving. The car was deemed a total loss and the cousin could have been very badly hurt or even killed, permanently changing their life. These are the kind of things that make impared driving real in someones life. It's not just numbers in some textbook or on a screen. It is experiences. It is people's lives, families, and futures being affected. It made me realize how easily one choice can ruin everything.

I know I can play a role in preventing impaired driving. I will never drive if I'm tired, distracted, or under the influence and I will not let my friends drive if they are impaired. I will also try to teach people about what I have learned. Sometimes just sharing a real story, like what I went through with my biological father, can make someone stop and think. My experiences make me more serious about it than I would have been if I didn't have these traumatic things happen to me. 
Learning about it in school, seeing examples in real life, and living through my dad’s reckless driving have made me very serious about safe driving. I want to protect myself, my passengers, and others. I hope that by using what I’ve learned and sharing my experiences, I can influence others to make better choices and maybe prevent someone else from living through what I did.