Marguerite Cherfils

Growing up, I always heard people talk about how driving = freedom. My mom would always tell me how driving allows you to escape the chaos of family drama, school, or just to give your mind a break. But what I didn’t realize was how quickly that feeling of freedom can disappear when someone behind the wheel makes one careless decision. A real event involving one of my close friends completely changed the way I think about impaired driving. It altered how I view trust, responsibility, and the choices I allow myself to make when I’m in the car. 

Before this incident, I never paid much attention to how the driver was acting or whether they were fully alert. I assumed that no one would ever risk their own life by driving unsafely. But that assumption was shattered when a friend of mine, let’s call him Jimmy, was involved in an accident during our spring quarter. 

Jimmy had been getting close to a girl named Leah for months. They had the same goofy sense of humor, the same favorite foods, and the same laid-back personality. Their friends used to joke that they were male and female versions of each other. As we approached the end of the quarter—a fast-paced ten-week term filled with constant assignments and exams—Jimmy planned to ask Leah to be his girlfriend before break. But with everyone stressed out and mentally drained, he and a few friends decided they needed one night to celebrate the end of exams. They settled on a party to blow off steam.

The group headed out with the designated driver, Monte. Although he had been impaired vaping while driving, making him unalert while he was on the road. While driving, a car pulled out at an intersection in front of them, causing Monte to short stop. Because he was unalert and unfocused, he reacted too slowly and crashed directly into the car ahead. Monte’s car was totaled. Jimmy, who was in the front seat, was knocked unconscious along with Monte. The friends in the backseat were injured but still able to call the police. Jimmy later said that right before blacking out, the last thing he remembered was Leah’s face. When he finally woke up in the hospital days later, Leah was sitting right beside him. That moment became the beginning of their official relationship, and they are still together to this day. 

But even though the emotional ending was positive, what led to that hospital moment could easily have ended in tragedy. That reality shook me more than I expected. From this experience, I learned several powerful lessons that permanently changed my relationship with driving and my awareness of impaired driving.

First, trusting a driver should never be automatic; don’t assume that just because someone has a license means they are being responsible. As I pay attention, I look to see if the driver is tired, distracted, under the influence of anything that affects judgement or reaction time. Even something like vaping can impair awareness enough to cause a life-changing crash. If I’m not comfortable, I speak up or offer another option. 

Second, I learned that youth does not make us invincible. There are countless opportunities ahead of us, and one reckless decision can take them all away. Driving impaired isn’t just “risky”, it’s gambling with your future and with the futures of the people around you. No moment of fun is worth that price. 

Lastly, I realized that my life is not my own. Some people would be devastated if something happened to me. When the driver chooses to get behind the wheel impaired, they are deciding for everyone involved, not just themselves. Jimmy’s accident made me understand how deeply our choices behind the wheel affect the people who love us. Now, whether I am driving or riding with someone else, I make completely different decisions. I refuse rides from anyone who seems even slightly impaired, and I prioritize being alert, focused, and sober every time I’m behind the wheel. Jimmy’s experience changed me. When I’m a passenger, I no longer ignore red flags. I protect my life and the lives of the people around me. That one event—one moment of impairment—reshaped my awareness permanently. 

I hope that sharing this story encourages other young drivers to understand how quickly impaired driving can change everything. Our lives are too valuable to risk on a careless decision. The rules exist for a reason, and when we follow them, we protect not just ourselves but everyone who depends on us.