34,000. That is the number of fatalities Americans have to tragically mourn on an annual basis. This statistic is certainly extremely alarming and it comes at complete shock that this information is not more commonly aware of. Out of these 34,000 people who passed away due to driving "accidents", it is reasonable to surmise that a large percentage of these "accidents" occurred due to an individual being impaired. Now, it must briefly be said why the word accidents is in parenthesis. The word accident has the denotation that said event was not on purpose but I raise the question; if an individual willingly chose to drive impaired, was that event technically accidental? What even is impaired driving? I believe this term spans much more broadly than the average person perceives it. While one might state that impaired driving is operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, I would define this term as operating a vehicle under conditions that distract the driver from operating under perfect control. Technology is a perfect instance of an impairment. While phones and other sources of technology do not directly affect a human's bodily systems in the same way that drugs and alcohol do, they certainly still distract the operator from driving at 100% capacity which therefore impairs them. The existence of phones and their prevalence among all drivers alike is certainly the most contributing factor to impaired driving. My perspective may be biased as many of the people I am familiar with do not drink alcohol or indulge in drugs, but I still maintain the belief that phones lead to the highest rate of impairment. Whether a driver is sending a quick text or briefly changing the song on the radio, these subtle instances can result in disaster. It is always the most minute actions that cause the most damage. One would never believe that a momentary glance at their phone to end another's life, but this is certainly the case. This holds true in an instance I witnessed on the news a few months prior. It was broadcasted live that a young man, similar in age to myself, caused a driving accident resulting in the fatalities of an entire family of four. It was later revealed that he survived and this led to an epiphany of sorts I eventually had. I realized that this man would have to carry on his life knowing that his actions resulted in an entire family not being able to carry on their lives. This event is undoubtedly tragic and no amount of words can begin to describe the level of guilt this man certainly experienced and is experiencing. This said, there is certainly a lesson to be learned here. I myself have taken this accident into account every time I step foot in a vehicle to drive. Remembering this family who is no longer with us, I ensure to never drive impaired as I am aware that impairment creates opportunity for much more severe consequences. Now, if said impairment is so deadly and dangerous, it is a wonder that so many individuals still fall victim to the effects of impairment. That is because for whatever reason, many people deem that these tragic events will never occur to them and these events exist elsewhere. Until humans realize that these events easily have the capability to harm themselves and their loved ones, ignorance of impairment remains rampant. This is where driver's education and traffic school courses struggle. While these courses highlight the monetary and legal consequences of breaking the law, they do not cover the more fatal aspects of impaired driving. This said, these courses could greatly be enhanced while also improving their mission by more directly teaching and demonstrating the stories of those who have suffered or lost loved ones due to this form of driving. Fear is certainly the greatest motivator. Therefore, by ensuring upcoming drivers to fear impaired driving, the rate of fatalities in America will drastically decrease. I would like to immediately interject that in no way am I attempting to undermine the effectiveness of these programs, I am simply attempting to share my personal insight that could be used to only further improve driver's education at the national level. Although at the time of the course I did not appreciate the benefits of this education, I stand corrected as I reflect on the beliefs this program has had on me. As demonstrated throughout this writing, driving is extremely dangerous which is why I am grateful for the opportunity to increase my awareness on the roads before completely being bestowed the privilege of driving. In the same fashion in which my appreciation for driver's education has increased, my understanding of impairment has also increased as time has elapsed. On a daily basis, I strive to exemplify safe driving which my knowledge of the converse, impaired driving, has taught me. By willfully choosing to continuously remain fully attentive at the wheel through avoiding phone usage and substances entirely, I demonstrate that driving safely is not only possible, but necessary. I sincerely hope that my knowledge will influence all my fellow humans to think twice before driving impaired. As I explain that my actions are shaped by real stories and real consequences, they will feel encouraged to act in like fashion to myself. My sole hope is that as more drivers seek out safe driving that appalling fatality count will only diminish and possibly, even perish. Furthermore, I will wield my knowledge of this critical topic to achieve a future where less families experience the grief of losing loved ones to impaired driving.