Impaired driving means driving at a greater risk of injury or death.  Most people think of alcohol or drugs as the most common impaired driving, but there are many others, including fatigue, texting/phone use, and naturally occurring human factors such as sneezing. Regardless of the cause of impairments (alcohol, drugs, fatigue, texting/phone use distraction), the results are the same.  The results can include reduced judgment, reduced reaction time, lack of coordination, and lack of focus.  The consequences of these impairments and their resulting effects can be severe and life altering.  All drivers should be educated about all known impairments, the results, and the consequences of these impairments.

Impaired driving affects everyone.  Preventing all forms of impaired driving requires planning and risk control tools.  Driver's education classes tend to stress individual impairment factors and the ultimate result of those impairments, but the smallest amount of impairment or the combination of small amounts of multiple impairments can have lifelong altering consequences that can be worse than death.  Survivors of driving incidents can be left with life-long injuries and innocent bystanders can be injured or kill without an opportunity to prevent the event.

The most common impairment is fatigue, because it can happen to anyone and without other self-induced contributing impairments, but fatigue can also be combined with other impairments for a severe risk of incidents.  Fatigue happens naturally due to stress or sleep deprivation.  Fatigue can happen to the most experienced and cautious drivers regardless of age, personality, or physical strength.

Fatigue, similar to alcohol and drugs, slows reflexes and, similar to phone use, takes your eyes off the road.  All impairments reduce focus on driving, resulting in failure to recognize hazards, speeding, unintentionally changing lanes, or fading off the roadway.  Fatigue is the most underestimated impairment because it cannot be overcome by physical strength or willpower.  Much like phone use, fatigue involves your eyes not being focused on the road and subsequently regaining awareness of your surroundings can be slowed.

Distractions, such as talking on the phone, texting on the phone, eating, using navigation systems, and changing the radio/music are significant contributing factors to driving incidents.  These distractions are self-induced factors, but naturally occurring human events can cause driving incidents.  I was recently hit from behind by a fellow student driving home from school.  We were both stopped at a traffic light, when the student driver behind me sneezed and slammed on the accelerator pedal.  The incident resulted in a couple of thousand dollars in damage to our cars, but this event illustrates that human factors, like fatigue and sneezing, can have great consequences without self-induced impairments.  If I had not been stopped in front of my fellow student, they would have entered intersection with heavy cross traffic resulting in far greater consequences.  Fortunately, no one was injured, but this incident was a first-hand example of how quickly and unintentionally things can go wrong.

Following this incident I have become more aware of other drivers around me, now I drive more cautiously to give other drivers extra space to protect all of us. Driver's education should use real-world scenarios and teach risk evaluation and planning before beginning a drive.  I feel this minor experience has changed the way I drive.

I can personally work to prevent impaired driving by practicing safe behaviors and encouraging my friends and family to do the same.  I can lead by example and help others to learn from my experiences.  Additionally, I can utilize technology that blocks phone use activity while driving and I can share it with others.  There are many apps and phone features that silence text notifications and prevent texting and phone calls while driving.  The phone companies could plan a greater role in driver safety and developing a culture of safe driving.

People are more influenced by examples than they are by words.  Small improvements across all drivers can multiply into significant reductions in incidents.  Driver’s education should simulate/model safe driving habits, such as putting away your phone before starting to drive, taking breaks during a long drive when tired or stressed, and allowing safe distances around all vehicles.

My limited driving experience has taught me that there are many impairments that can have catastrophic results.  I have learned that personal responsibility is key to reducing the risks that are within your control.  Incidents can occur unexpectedly, without warning, and in an instant.  Beyond being aware of impairments and trying to reduce or eliminate them from my driving environment, planning and implementing safe driving habits should be a major part of Driver’s education.