“Nat, stop looking at the scenery and watch the road.”

“Nat… it’s starting to snow.”

“Nathan, you’ve been driving for hours, can I take the wheel?”

“Nat, I know that water is pretty but focus on the road.”

“Nathan, the map doesn’t show there’s a road ahead…”

“Nat, I don’t understand why you keep ignoring…”

“NATHAN WATCH OUT.”

 

            All it takes is a moment. In that moment one seemingly normal drive is forever transformed into a tragedy. A major cause of these tragedies is impaired driving which takes more forms than people realize. Sure, texting or driving under the influence is common, however the list is much more expansive: listening to egregiously loud music, looking at the scenery, arguing, driving a night, sleep deprivation, stressing for an upcoming exam, almost anything that splits your attention from the road. Impaired driving is in every thought or action not directly related to driving a vehicle, however, due to how expansive the umbrella of distracted driving is, it’s nearly impossible do define what trully counts as impaired driving.

            Commonly, impaired driving is associated with texting and driving, which it absolutely is, however, a common social misconception behind texting and driving is believing it’s only teenagers that drive with a phone in hand. This narrow-minded bias couldn’t be farther from the truth. In July 2025 the New York Post claimed that 21.1% of Gen Z drivers use their phones behind the wheel, but that was the only focus. The article completely neglected other generations like Millennials, Gen X, or Baby Boomers who are just as guilty of checking their phones at red lights or answering calls on the highway. Using a phone while driving is a universal issue that must be addressed by all drivers.

            Phone usage while driving is a major cause of distracted driving, but of all the different types of impairment is what I call “blind driving.” Among the safest drivers today, if you can’t see the road then you are in more danger than you realize. Frosted windshields, heavy rain making the road blurry, the bright sun blinding your eyes, or the darkness of night with a lack of visibility, driving without being able to see is horrifying. With growing technology and more advance cars, blind driving is a major cause of concern, especially with LED lights being a popular component of newer cars. Pair the already dangerous natural impairment with bright headlights will cause the safest of drivers to panic and possible swerve into another lane.

            My preferred driving role is “passenger princess” so that I can relax and people-watch on the road. Unfortunately, one of my closest friends is a confident driver who often uses her phone while driving to multitask so she won’t forget anything. This has caused quite a few scares to the point that I would yell, “Is that text more important than my life?!” while desperately climbing to the emergency handle for my life. She’s become more careful and it’s taught my that screaming about the dangers is an effective lesson. However, the story that’s had the greatest impact on my driving happened before I was born.

            When my grandparents were young and had only just had my uncle, they were driving in Williamsburg looking at new houses in the area. Unfortunately, due to the lack of modern-day forecasting, a sudden snow storm crept up on them out of the blue. My grandfather, Nathan, was known was sight-seeing while driving, not watching the road in front of him. The blinding snow was of no help to his normally wandering gaze. My grandmother begged my grandfather to pull over but he simply continued driving up a hill covered in icy snow. It was only when the brakes wouldn’t work and the three quickly descended the hill that my grandfather realize his error. They weren’t on a main road but a back path that led straight into the James River. The combination of watery snow, icy roads, and absolutely no traction sent them plummeting towards the cold depths. It was shear luck that the car twisted and crashed into a snowy bank. My grandmother can still recall their heavy breathing as my uncle cried in the back seat.

            To this day my grandmother refuses to drive in rain or snow. Even my confident grandfather is skeptical when faced with a slippery road. I may not have been alive then, but I take it as a very serious warning of how mother nature is the most dangerous impairment to driving. If the rain is ever too heavy or my tires start to slide, I’ll pull into the nearest parking lot and wait out the storm. I never want to put mine or another life in danger to get someplace a little faster.

            In today’s social, driving education focus very heavily on texting and driving. That is incredibly important as all drivers should be aware of the dangers, however, driving schools should also cover the dangers of the driving environment and how it can affect driving. Teaching simple tricks like looking to the midline when faced head on by bright lights or letting off the gas when hydroplaning can be invaluable. Most young drivers believe in the moment they’ll “figure it out,” but it’s that over estimation of skill that causes death in an avoidable accident. There was an accident recently in Virginia where a young woman was blinded by the sun, hit a pothole, and swerved into the tree in a panic.  In a moment of need, there’s no guarantee that you’ll know what to do without prior knowledge or prevention. 

            Personally, there’s only so much I can do, but I do what I can. I constantly berate my friends when they use their phones while driving and will snatch it away if I’m riding. Extra sunglasses hold a permanent space in my bag for bright morning. It was a trick I picked up from my driving test where I learned a few tricks for driving with mother nature instead of against it. Small things may seem insignificant but they have protected me and those around me.

            Driving is a privilege that is as dangerous as it is convenient. Impaired driving can take away a life, lively hood, and happiness in a moment with no prior warning. That is why I implore everyone I meet to wear sunglasses, take their time, and don’t get into an easily avoidable accident. My grandparents were luckily that snowy day, not everyone is.