When I think about “driving under the influence of alcohol”,the first thing that comes to my mind is driving without full control and risking other’s life because alcohol slows you down, messes your judgment in the road, and makes you take risks that you normally would not.The normalization of “I’m fine” after couple of drinks, or they feel confident even though they’re not okay to drive. Even drivers that took traffic or driving courses sometimes underestimate how much alcohol can affect them. They think it only applies to someone who is extremely drunk or stumbling, but the truth is that even a small amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely.

There are many things that affect a driver’s ability today, not just alcohol. Distractions and other substances are becoming more common every day. A huge one is texting. Almost everyone uses their phones constantly, and everyone thinks that checking a message isn’t a big deal. But those two seconds that you take your eyes off the road to check your phone can make the difference between stopping in time and hitting someone.Another reason is social media- most common one is scrolling on Tik Tok or even making Tik Toks while driving. These things are so normalized nowadays that it is not even surprising to see someone doing it. Drugs, whether legal or illegal, also affects driving. Some people are very used to being under the influence of drugs that make them think they are good to drive, but like alcohol, drugs slow down reactions and change decision-making and how people see things on the road. And the last one and to me the most underestimate fatigue. Driving with fatigue is very similar to driving under influence. When you’re tired, your body reacts and is slower, you lose focus very easily, and most of the time, people fall asleep for a second without realizing it, but this one is easier to prevent, just take a nap and you’ll be good. All of these things have something in common: they make drivers distracted, slow, and careless, leading to unsafe behavior that puts everyone on the road at risk.

I’ve heard many stories that changed the way I think about driving under the influence, but one was my dad’s experience. In 1995, when he lived in Medellin, Colombia, he went through a major tragedy. Some people had spent the night drinking in a neighborhood located high up on a mountain. After staying up all night, they took a short nap and woke up around 3 or 4 a.m. Instead of calling someone to drive them, getting an uber, or just waiting until the morning, they decided to drive home while still under the influence of alcohol. The road they had to take was extremely steep and full of sharp curves. Because they weren’t sober and their reactions were slowed, they lost control while driving downhill. Their car went off the road and fell into an abyss. Hearing this story from my dad made the dangers of drunk driving feel real. And now it wasn’t just a statistic or something that I see on the news. These stories should change our way of thinking about driving and the responsibility that it takes.

Driving school and traffic courses also play a big role in changing attitudes toward driving under influences of alcohol, drugs, text driving or fatigue. These programs aren’t just about memorizing rules. They show the real consequences of unsafe decisions. The videos, stories, and statistics used in these courses often hit harder than anything else because they actually show you the consequences. They explain in detail how alcohol affects the brain. These courses also teach legal consequences,which can be serious and life changing.

Personally, I believe everyone has the responsibility to prevent drunk driving, including myself. Even as a teenager, I can still make choices that help keep the roads safer. The first thing I can do is lead by example. What I mean is never getting behind the wheel if I’ve been drinking and never letting a friend or someone in my family drive if they have. Sometimes people don’t want to speak up because they’re afraid of “ruining the vibe” or “not being cool”, but saying something could save someone's life. I can offer to call a ride, drive someone home, or offer to sleepover. I can also use stories I’ve heard to talk to others about how dangerous drunk driving is. Sharing information or a story- like my dad’s- can someone think twice in the future. I might not be able to be in everyone’s mind to control their choices, but I can influence my friends, my family, and the people around me. By making responsible choices and encouraging others to do the same, I can help prevent accidents and protect lives.