To me, impaired driving means operating a motor vehicle while having your senses affected, based on your ability to think clearly and quickly, react to situations, and make safe decisions while operating the vehicle. While many people may think that impairment is considered to be drinking and driving, impairment can be anything that causes you to react more slowly or lose focus on the road. Examples of impaired driving are texting while driving, drinking and then driving, smoking and driving, or even being tired; all of these affect the driver's ability to stay focused and react to unexpected events on the road. Even after taking driver's ed and understanding that these distractions can lead to delayed reaction, people still do it every day. Many people who take driver’s ed take an online course in which they skim or can look over many topics. I believe this can translate into young drivers missing the importance of impaired driving. 

Today, I believe the most common types of impairment are alcohol and phone use. While alcohol slows reaction time tremendously, it also affects a person's judgment and often causes blurred vision. People may think that being on their phone while driving isn't an impairment, but it causes a slower reaction time due to not fully paying attention to the road, and it can also cause you to swerve, making it extremely dangerous to yourself and other drivers around. Any impairments lead to a dangerous situation on the road, putting yourself and others around you at great risk. 

I have heard stories about impaired drivers on the road, and it has shaped the way I view impaired driving. We have all heard the classic story, teenagers drinking and driving on their way to prom and ultimately ending up in a car crash. This story is extremely realistic and can be true for many people. While I don't know someone who this has personally happened to, it could happen to anyone at any time, even if they aren't the ones drinking; they could be hit by a drunk driver. Hearing about the statistics revolving around drunk driving makes the situation a lot deeper; knowing or seeing a crash involving a drunk driver can be traumatic. Hearing about these stories has made me realize the importance of not driving while impaired. Most importantly, I believe that drinking and driving is the most dangerous form of impaired driving. I grew up in a household where if one sip of alcohol was consumed, my parents wouldn’t drive. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your life, as you only get one. Even though mistakes happen, impaired driving is one hundred percent avoidable. 

I believe that driver's ed can play a major role in changing attitudes around impaired driving. Sharing the importance behind safe driving, while sharing statistics based on the different types of impaired driving, will open the eyes of many young people getting their license. I believe it is important for student drivers to see simulations of what impaired driving looks like rather than just reading about it. In a reading, it doesn't seem as real as it does to actually see it, even if it's a simulation. Being able to visualize the dangers of impaired driving will show the realistic side effects that come with it, even in a fake scenario. Student drivers are more likely to understand the effects of their actions and understand that impaired driving is very dangerous. 

To prevent impaired driving, I will drive safely and model to others that driving safely is the best option. I will encourage friends to also drive safely, never driving impaired in any way, whether that means driving tired, texting and driving, or drinking and driving. Another way I can prevent someone from driving while impaired, for example, drinking and driving, I will be sure to collect their keys so they can't leave, and also ensure they're in a safe space. My knowledge of safe driving and the dangers of impaired driving could save someone’s life. I don’t want to feel like I am responsible for something that isn’t my fault, but feels like it. If I were to let someone I know drive while impaired, I would be devastated if something were to happen to them or if they were to cause danger to others. In the event of a crash or their going to jail, I would hold a lot of guilt around their actions because I would have let them drive while impaired. I would rather drive someone home, pick them up, or call them an Uber than have them end up in a hospital or jail.