Driving is something that should not be taken lightly, often times people tend to be distracted while driving. This poses a huge threat to other people driving on the roads and to people nearby. I think an impaired driver is someone who isn't currently able to drive properly and safely. I think it is misunderstood because, when people hear the word impaired, they think of someone who doesn't has the ability to operate a motor vehicle. In reality it is the "everyday driver". As soon as someone becomes distracted for a minute or two while driving, they become impaired because they aren't focused on what they are doing. I think that after a while of a person driving, maybe a few years, or even after taking multiple classes on driving, people tend to get too comfortable. They think because they know how to drive and know where all the roads lead to that means they can take their eyes off the road for a bit, but one second is all it takes for an accident to happen. Impaired driving is a danger to everyone. 
 I think that the most common type of impairment in today's world is texting or being distracted by your phone. People are too attached to their phones to put it down. It is not okay for someone to be driving while on their phone. I have friends tell me how their family or friends will just get on their phone and look at social media. People think that it will be fine, that nothing will happen, its only for a moment but it’s not. There are also other type of impairment while driving such as driving fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These are also very dangerous things. Driving under the influence or fatigued puts everyone on the road at risk, it can be a death sentence. It affects your ability to see, make decisions, and think properly. It would be like driving blind in a sense. It could ruined your whole life, one mistake and its over. You could kill or injure someone, be stripped of your driving privileges, or thrown into jail. People’s actions have consequences.

When I was taking courses to get my permit, I remember there was a video that was shown to me about a woman who was left in a disabled state all because she was hit by a drunk driver.  Its been 2 years since I saw that video, it struck me to my core. I was scared and I thought to myself I will never drink. Its scary, honestly to think someone’s life can be changed so much by a simple decision to drive drunk. I also remember being shown a similar video of a person who was texting while driving and they ended up hitting a kid. He was hospitalized after. All of this over a simple text, it makes me sad thinking about it. These were true stories, there’s many more too. When it comes to myself on the road, I reflect on my actions. I think about what I did and I think what might’ve happened. I make mistakes everyone does. Thankfully nothing has happened and I am aware of my surroundings when driving. I try to be aware of what other drivers are doing around me and where they are.

I think drivers ed and school traffic courses can help to teach people what to do on the roads and I think it can also help to bring awareness to driving impaired. What impaired driving really means and how to prevent it. Perhaps putting the phone on silent or maybe calling a ride home after a long night. I also think it makes sure that the people who are beginning to drive in the world, freely on the road know what they are doing, it makes the transition from learning to drive and actually driving on a daily basis easier to adjust. These courses aren’t just there to talk about the dangers of driving, they are there to help make sure a new driver is learning to properly respect the rules of the road and what to do when an accident or something unexpected happen.

After knowing and learning all of these things about impaired driving I am able to help others, my family, friends, and anyone else. I can look for certain signs and help to prevent possibly dangerous actions or decisions. It makes me more aware of what I am doing when I drive. It’s a privilege to be able to drive, it can easily be taken away from you.