It is strange how something as normal as driving is considered one of the ways more people have died than in some wars. I always knew that driving was risky and that while on the road, you weren't only looking out for yourself but also for the thousands of other people sharing that road with you. To me, impaired driving means that anything, whether it's alcohol, drugs, tiredness, stress, or my phone, keeps me from giving the road my full focus. Many people undervalue the meaning of impaired. Some believe it's only when they are completely drunk or completely out of control. But in reality, a driver can be impaired long before they even know it. Even drivers who have completed driving courses can sometimes be negligent of the meaning of impaired driving. Too many people underestimate their own level of impairment and overestimate their skills. Especially in younger drivers, their overconfidence can blind them and lead them to believe that the rules don't apply to them. 

The most common types of impaired driving I see now aren't just from alcohol or drugs. They come from our phones. Texting while driving or doom scrolling has become like second nature for many people. A single notification can make someone take their eyes off the road and with it enough time to react to any unprecedented situations. A single second is enough to cause deadly accidents. Fatigue is another common impairment and is very underestimated. I've seen friends and family confidently drive home while their eyes slowly close, not realizing how their slowed reactions make every action a critical one. Alcohol and drugs remain deadly impairments, but the "insignificant" distractions remain just as lethal. Those distractions are eating, doing makeup, or reaching for something in the car. Those tiny moments of lack of focus make them 

just as dangerous as drunk driving. These forms of impairment don't always seem serious to people, but they can lead to life-changing consequences.

One experience that completely changed my perspective on driving happened when I was riding home from work with my uncle. He was driving and talking to my aunt on the phone, and a few seconds later, he handed the phone to me. The moment he glanced away to pass it over, he unknowingly ran a red light. As I turned my head, I saw a car coming straight toward us, showing no signs of stopping. All I heard was a blaring horn and the screeching of tires before the powerful impact that sent my uncle’s car spinning in circles. I was too stunned to move or speak. I remember staring at my uncle as he yelled, “Are you okay?” and, behind him, seeing the same car sliding back toward us like it was about to hit us again, all within seconds of the first crash. One split second of distraction was all it took to put me, my uncle, and the other driver in a coin toss between life and death. Thankfully, no one was severely hurt. At the time, I had braces, and when the airbags exploded against my face, my mouth started bleeding and throbbing with pain. Looking back now, it feels like the best worst thing that could have happened to me. Since that day, I’ve made a rule for myself to stay fully focused on the road at all times. Even if I am perfectly fine to drive, I know that doesn’t mean everyone around me is. I still carry the shock and trauma of that accident, and to this day, I find myself constantly checking the right side of the road and easing on the brakes whenever I see a car approaching. That day made me value the importance of being focused on the road because if not, I may not get a third chance at life, or worse, take someone else's chance away.

Driver's education and traffic school courses can be powerful tools for preventing impaired driving when they go beyond just traffic rules and focus also on the real-world consequences of impaired driving. Courses that use real-life stories, simulations, or even testimonials from victims often make the lesson feel more personal. I say this because, although it’s not directly related to impaired driving, I’ve often changed how I see and react to things after hearing how they affected someone else. Today, so many people are so desensitized that they no longer feel the weight of how their actions can impact their own or someone else's life. That is why it is very important to make programs for driving more focused on the safety and consequences of impaired driving, to help students understand the responsibilities that come from being behind the wheel.

I believe my role in preventing impaired driving starts with leading by example. I can refuse to get in a car with a drunk family or friend, remind them to put their phones away while driving, or offer to drive if someone feels tired. Even pulling over to rest can help. The knowledge and experiences I have gained make it clear that safety is a shared responsibility, and any action, big or small, is an action to prevent impaired driving and make roads safe for everyone.