Driving is so important that being distracted or impaired behind the wheel can be deadly. A car is heavy machinery, so being focused on the road and your driving can make sure that everyone gets home safely. Inpairment is being on your phone, drugs, alcohol, or eating food. All of these things are distracting and can impair your driving skills. Making sure that all of these things are put away and you are aware of your responsibility behind the wheel, you can drive. The things that impair drivers in this generation are their phones. Phones are such a big deal since much of the younger generation is addicted and thinks they can't turn them off, but that's wrong. It should be the right thing to turn on directions and music before you put the car in drive, and then don't touch the phone until you are safely parked at your destination. If you really need to get on your phone, pull over, put your hazard lights on, and make the text or phone call. Many drivers think that it's not a big deal, but it is such a distraction, and taking your eyes off the road for more than a second can result in a very bad accident. Impaired driving bothers me most because it feels as though you are disrespecting the other people on the road. I was told a story by a teacher during my high school experience, and she had lost 2 of her family members to a drunk, wrong-way driver. This story was too traumatizing to hear, and I know how much it affected my teacher. This is really what changed my mindset on impaired driving. There are many times were I see people who are driving distracted or impaired, and it scares me because I never want to be that driver who scares the other people on the road. Thinking about how I react to impaired drivers, I would never want people to think that about me. I never want something like this to happen to me or anyone else on the road, so I will always make sure that I am aware, calm, and responsible every time I get behind the wheel in any car. Being educated before you get behind the wheel is so important, and taking responsibility for your actions behind the wheel is what many drivers need to learn. Drivers who are uneducated or irresponsible make the most mistakes, which in some cases end really badly. These things need to be taken more seriously because the guilt of hurting someone because you got behind the wheel uneducated or impaired can eat someone alive. I think that being educated is so important because you need to know what the signs mean, who has the right of way, and how to correctly manage and handle your vehicle. As a driver who takes these situations seriously, I always remember to read road signs, buckle up, keep my eyes on the road, and never distract myself while driving. I want the people around me to follow my actions, so I always make sure to drive safely and make sure my passengers know to buckle up and not distract me while riding in my car. Doing these things will help others see what they should do and think about how they can improve their driving to keep everyone on the road safe. These things combined help me become the best driver I can be and make sure I am a good example for the passengers in my car. Making sure that I can be a good example for others on the road helps me feel relaxed and calms me down while I drive. Even when I make mistakes, I stay calm, listen to my knowledge, and find the best way to make up for what I just did. I have had many experiences with mistakes since I have been driving for just about a year, but with the insane amount of road rage that is happening in this generation, it is so scary to make a mistake because I am always worried someone is going to try and run me off the road. The repercussions of being impaired behind the wheel are extreme; it can ruin your career, life, and even marriage. Being drunk, high, or distracted behind the wheel has a hefty fine and, in some cases, jail time. Those things scared me the most. I would never want my entire life to be flushed away just because I had one bad decision and hurt others. The drivers on the road now seem to think they are invincible while behind the wheel, but they don't realize what can happen while being impaired or distracted. This mindset has hurt so many people, and it still does. So, the more we educate people, show them the effects of their distracted driving, and make sure they know the repercussions, I think the safer the roads will be and the better it will be to drive.