My father always said, “I’d rather have you be late and safe than dead too early.” As a passenger in my grandpa’s car, driving down Mohawk Street later in the evening, I was returning home from my weekly attendance at the Vietnamese Boy Scouts. I felt the draining effects of a simple excursion that had become part of my routine. Something as simple as feeling fatigued could become a danger to society if someone were to sit behind the wheel and drive.

Looking out the window as we started decelerating while approaching a yellow light, I saw a woman in a pink shirt riding a bicycle, a child crying in the backseat of a red car, and, alarmingly, a driver zooming past us, closing his eyes while he yawned. As the light turned from yellow to red, chills ran down my spine. In less than a minute, I witnessed a fatal car crash that could have been prevented by being aware of one’s surroundings. The woman on the bike stopped and turned pale, the child in the red car stopped crying, and the man who was zooming by was trapped, the car crushing his body while he tried to free himself. Sirens started blaring in what seemed to be minutes. But by then it was too late. I saw blood slowly emerging from the car until there was a puddle of it, and the man stopped moving. This incident forever changed my thoughts on what “fit to drive” really meant. 

Personally, to me, impaired driving means that one is not physically or mentally able to drive for any reason. Sometimes this is misunderstood by teenagers and adults who have completed driver’s education; everyone makes mistakes. However, mistakes on the road can cause accidents that lead to death. The driver mentioned in my story, for example, was fatigued and could not keep his eyes on the road clearly. He took the risk of driving while tired and forgot everything he had been taught during his driver’s education. Many think that impaired driving refers to driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or similar substances, but impaired driving can also refer to fatigue, drowsiness, or mental problems one has. Impaired driving to me means that one is not physically able to drive or make safe decisions for themselves or others while behind the wheel. 

The incident I mentioned impacts how I drive today. Learning how to drive at the age of 15, I always remember to stay aware and not let tiny distractions get in my way. One slip-up could be the cause of a deadly accident. Fatigue, in particular, is one of the most common impairments affecting drivers today. Especially regarding high school students who aren’t as experienced, tiredness can lead to inattentive driving, or, in other words, impaired driving. Every time I sit behind the wheel after a tiring day, I take extra caution when driving. If I do not feel fit to drive, I always have the option of asking someone else who is fit to drive to drive for me. The story of the man running a red light, as well as my father’s words, lingers in the back of my mind every day, shaping choices I make behind the wheel.

Furthermore, driver’s education and traffic schools are mandatory for a person to obtain their permit and license, therefore shaping the choices one makes behind the wheel. These classes that are provided help to promote the “dos” and “don’ts” of driving while impaired. However, many of these classes become forgotten. Today, as many individuals have easier access to substances that could get them “high” or drunk, it is of the utmost importance to be aware of one’s surroundings while driving. The fine line between the “dos” and don’ts” of driving becomes blurred to some. For instance, some may perceive drunk driving as 5 shots, while others, a sip of alcohol. It is always important to remember, even if one isn’t impaired, someone else could be.

As social media and technology continue to grow, many people have access to resources that can help educate them about the dangers of the road. This knowledge can help promote healthy decisions while driving. I have seen numerous posts, stories, and campaigns that stress the importance that driving while impaired can lead to fatal accidents. Reminding me of a moment I witnessed years ago, I am glad that driving schools teach “defensive driving” and how to recognize impairments on the road, as well as how to deal with them. Reflecting back on the car accident on Mohawk Street, the lessons became even more real. It’s one thing to see a car accident happen on the screen; it’s another thing to see it happen right in front of your eyes.

Impaired Driving is a threat to many, and every day I sit behind the wheel, I think about how quickly life can change and how I will ensure that I keep myself and others safe while on the road. Simple decisions I can make, such as being cautious when approaching a yellow light, being coherent, and spreading the word through social media, mouth, and flyers at school, can all help prevent impaired driving. By spreading the word, it can promote a safer community for the future generations of drivers who understand that being behind the wheel means being responsible for the lives on the road. Change can start with one person, and if I can share my experience of what happened on Mohawk Street to encourage even just one individual to drive more safely, my goal of keeping more people safe will be satisfied.