Impaired driving is operating a vehicle while unclear of mind. Many are under the assumption that only stimulants and depressants can cause a driver to be impaired but even the slightest disturbance can throw someone off. Birds and strange weather cause accidents all the time which goes to show how easily you can be hindered. Once, on the way to a hiking trail my cousin saw a man swerve around then jump up on the curb and run out of his car waving his hands in the air yelling. He crashed into a middle aged lady because of the distracting event. People shouldn’t deliberately divide their attention while in their vehicles so knowing what can be a distraction is lifesaving. The examples of impaired driving are often limited to drugs and alcohol which is why even trained and experienced drivers can be unaware that they are being unsafe. 

Other causes of impaired driving include distractions like technology. Changing the music in their car could be the last thing someone ever does. The best time to skip a song is after parking or having a passenger manage it for you. Another option for driving safely while listening to music is to figure out what to listen to before starting to drive. Texting is an additional distraction because it forces you to pay attention in order to press all the right buttons. If a driver is a victim of the urge to text while driving they should put their phone on silent before getting on the road. Some might argue that they need to use their phone to find their way but it's a much better idea to have a navigator in the car as a passenger or to have the directions read themselves aloud. If having directions read isn't an option then then the best thing to do is to remember street names or landmarks.

Social distractions also draw attention that should be fully devoted to driving. People trying to get the attention of the driver by pointing or saying their name loudly might cause a crash. Many passengers talking at once naturally catches the ears of the driver and can be disorientating. One of my friends didn’t notice scraping a car due to loud friends and ended up accidentally committing a hit and run. Telling the others in the car to be quieter might seem scary but being responsible for harming them is even scarier. It’s also possible to be too emotionally distracted due to conversations with peers, if a person is feeling too angry or upset they should pull over and take a pause. Crashes cause a significant raise in charges from drivers insurance, so stewing on arguments while driving is not worth it.

The standard impairments to driving can also be misunderstood. Some believe that only having one drink means they can drive. Despite the belief that physical mass greatly improves tolerance to alcohol, any consumption is an impairment. Some might intend on being a designated driver or staying sober but fall victim to peer pressure. One drink isn't worth the lives of those you hold dear. My father worked as a firefighter and EMS and personally witnessed the tragedy drunk driving can cause. On many occasions he saw drunk drivers survive car crashes and the people they hit die. Those drunk drivers had to live with the guilt of killing innocent people they’ll never know. 

Even being tired is an impairment because a person isn't on their guard when they're sleepy. The brain needs sleep to function properly and denying it rest slows reaction time and impedes alertness. Something as simple as stopping for the night at a hotel while driving can prevent danger. Driving while fatigued could lead to falling asleep at the wheel which endangers everyone on the road especially on a highway. Handling a car requires you to perform a series of tasks quickly and correctly so being rested and ready is extremely helpful.

It is of great importance to understand the responsibility a driver has, the courses of entire lives can turn in a single night. A DUI can ruin a future and a death of a loved one due to irresponsible driving can tear families apart. It is so easy to stop bad things from happening when a person is reasonable enough to take precautions. Even if someone is driving by themselves they still are around other drivers and pedestrians. So long as a driver recognizes the danger of driving impaired they can keep themselves and others safe.