Impaired driving is a problem that is becoming more prevalent in today’s society with the increasingly frequent use of technology while driving. To me, impaired driving means driving while distracted, whether that be by drugs, alcohol, phone usage, medical conditions, or exhaustion. I believe that impaired driving is frequently misunderstood, as many associate it solely with drugs and alcohol. The truth is, however, that impaired driving can result from multiple different agents, many of which are often done without any thought, and are seen on a daily basis. Drugs and alcohol are among the most common causes of impaired driving, with about 30% of fatal crashes in the US being caused by drunk driving (NHTSA). Among young drivers, texting or phone usage while driving is on the rise, with 39% of high school students admitting to being on their phone while driving (CDC). No matter the impairment, driving while distracted or under the influence significantly endangers both the driver’s life and others, by taking focus off of traffic and the road. These choices can be fatal, and many times people don’t understand the immediate consequences of their actions, as education can be lacking.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have only been in one car crash, but that crash changed the way I viewed safe driving. My mother and I were on a routine drive to the store, as we often did when I was younger. Mid conversation, we glanced out the window and saw a light pole beginning to tip, with a wrecked car skidding beside it. With nowhere to swerve, we had no chance of escaping as a second car rear ended us hard, throwing us forward into traffic. I remember closing my eyes trying to avoid seeing the damage that had been caused. As soon as it was safe to get out, we exited the car, and stood in shock as we surveyed the wreckage. There was a truck on the curb, with the side smashed in, and a car behind us with the entire front end wrecked from hitting our bumper. And the car that caused it was on the side of the road by the light pole, the driver running off down the street, phone in hand. The police arrived shortly after, and asked questions from everyone involved, including bystanders who had seen the crash happen. A cop car went after the woman who had swerved into the light pole, and it was later found out she had been texting about the Door Dash order she was delivering. I remember feeling shocked, and wondering how taking her eyes off the road for a second to look at her phone had caused that large of a mess. Everyone involved was fortunate enough to have only suffered minor injuries, and me and my mother had only bruises and sore muscles from being thrown forward, but I often think about that day and imagine how differently it could have gone. As a recently licensed driver, I take extra care to have no distractions when I drive. I keep my phone put away with notifications silenced, and I turn on my radio before I begin driving. When driving with passengers, I make sure they are sitting in their seat, and not impairing my vision or my focus. That experience showed me that it takes one mistake to change someone’s life forever. 

My driving school largely focused on drugs and alcohol while discussing impaired driving. While these topics were helpful, they don’t encompass the additional common causes of impaired driving. With technology becoming more integrated in everyone’s lives, and with phones being directly connected to many new models of cars through features like CarPlay and Bluetooth, I believe it is important to highlight the severity of the problem. Driver’s education should emphasize that impaired driving does not only involve alcohol and illegal drugs; prescription medication, fatigue, and especially phone usage are common sources of impaired driving as well. By educating on these topics, schools can better ensure that students are knowledgeable on the risks and consequences of their actions. Examples should be given to show severity–while this may be difficult to hear about, real-life examples can make abstract ideas more concrete, as well as make them more impactful. It shows that people involved in car crashes are humans, not simply statistics, which in my experience, makes the effects of car crashes more understandable, especially for young people. Driver’s education should emphasize the legal aspect of impaired driving, as well as the moral issues that come with making dangerous decisions, and the human impacts that happen when impaired driving takes place. 

To do my part in preventing impaired driving, I remain focused and aware every time I’m behind the wheel. I don’t engage in distracted driving, and I pay attention to how I feel before getting behind the wheel. If I feel tired, or have a headache, I find a way to get a ride from someone else. When I’m a passenger with friends or family, I offer to read the map directions to them, and remind them to keep their phone away. These are simple and quick fixes that can increase focus and concentration on the road, and prevent the tragedies that cannot be taken back.