We live in a world where billions of cars are used every single day, but the people behind the wheel are not always the people that will keep society fully safe. Impaired driving has become a massive problem in recent years, killing millions every year across the globe, and it’s more than just your typical “being drunk” stereotype. Having impaired driving can be under 2 categories: physically and mentally incapable. Being physically incapable of driving is where the body is in such a weakened state that the necessary motions for driving are not possible. This includes injuries, limb numbing, or other physical effects from medication or substances. Mentally incapable refers to the state of mind that is not fully aware of their surroundings, and if someone is in this state, they should not be behind the wheel under any circumstances. Being mentally incapable includes being drunk, showing signs of hallucinations, falling asleep, or generally being massively distracted. Most people consider impaired driving as the simple UTI, but the reason it’s so misunderstood is because it’s much broader than being drunk. If anyone is in these states, driving a vehicle not only puts themselves at risk of injury, but other passengers and surrounding civilians too.

In order to be a safe driver, the key things you must have to exhibit safe behavior is full awareness and consciousness, coordination and spatial awareness. As mentioned, drunkenness is the poster board example of impaired driving, which is why it’s the most common. Alcohol’s chemical composition, no matter the type or brand, has the same effects: a slower reaction time, impaired vision and coordination, and a lack of concentration. Impaired vision is similar to driving blindly; not knowing where you are is not safe for driving, and being behind the wheel requires a lot of coordination from the legs and hands. If being drunk causes these necessary functions to not work, the driver is putting lives in jeopardy. Certain drugs give similar side effects of hallucinations, numbing or pain, or even drowsiness are not rare either. Hallucinations lead to distractions and impaired vision, causing the driver to not pay attention to their surroundings, and drowsiness has a similar effect. Numbing refers back to the physical incapability of driving, as people wouldn’t have the proper coordination in the legs and arms to be in the driver seat. Then there’s an even more common impairment to driving that doesn’t involve substances, and that is just overall distractions. Radio stations, texting, trying to eat or drink, loud noises, and racing thoughts in the mind are all distractions that have led to accidents in the past, especially in the phone department. Not having your full attention on the road and your surroundings is just as bad as being under the influence.

I have witnessed many accidents in my area regarding impaired driving. Recently, a teenager on their phone crashed into a student crossing the street. Luckily the kid was fine for the most part, but was dealing with a lot of scars and bleeding areas when escorted to the hospital. Along with this, a car ran a red light while being under the influence, T-boning a friend of mine and heavily destroying both vehicles. Another example includes a woman trying to cut me off, hollering at me and giving inappropriate language because of her impatience and temper. It resulted in her not focusing on the road and rear-ending the truck in front of her. These stories have all shaped my awareness behind the wheel tremendously. The first story was a confirmation to have my phone tucked away to not even come close to texting or using it. If I required something, I would have to wait or be very diligent with the screen in the car to change a station or have a text read out, but those are rare occasions nowadays. The second story has an underlying message to not drive while drunk, and if in the case someone I know is drunk, I would be sure they have a sober driver to give them a ride to prevent a drunk individual on the streets. The last story doesn’t deal with having impaired driving, but always being aware of what’s occurring around and within the car, as well as being patient with other drivers to not escalate situations or cause accidents.

Driver’s education and traffic school can help change the behaviors of impaired driving by conditioning new drivers to not make the mistakes impaired drivers make, as well as make practical and smart decisions. These include designating a sober driver, minimizing distractions for the driver, and being aware of their conscious state to ensure they are being safe on the roads. These programmes are very effective in real-world situations by putting practice into action and ensuring that drivers are not multitasking, driving without impairment, and having the proper functions needed to get from point A to point B. What I can do to prevent impaired driving is to show the younger generation that is about to start cruising the streets the proper guidelines of safe and dangerous driving. Being vocal includes posting on social media, participating in community gatherings on the matter, and taking initiative when driving if necessary. My knowledge can help the drivers of the future make safer decisions by giving tips on how to not be distracted, as that is one of the biggest reasons for accidents that aren’t from substance. These pieces of advice include tucking the phone away for the entire drive, minimizing the noises from passengers or radio stations, and always looking through the mirrors to see what activity is happening around or behind the driver. 

Impaired driving has been an issue for a long time now, and it’s important for it to be minimized or eradicated as much as possible. Understanding that this impairment is not just from alcohol is helpful in grasping the whole concept. Communities through driving schools and leaders who take initiative on the matter help provide the knowledge and advice for new drivers. This will never be solved by one person, though; it takes all of us to practice safe habits, set an example for the next generation of drivers, and make smart choices behind the wheel to have safer roads across the globe.