Most people don’t assume that the driver beside them is impaired, and you may not comprehend this fact until you’re stumbling out of your car, desperately trying to catch your breath as the smoke surrounds your senses. However, the impaired driver may not always be under the influence, as most people assume, and underestimating how often these other factors can affect the average driver can lead to them putting themselves and others at risk. Driving while impaired can encompass situations such as driving while drowsy, with distractions like phones, medical conditions, and even emotional distress that can impair a driver's focus and decision-making. It’s important to fully understand the factors that can contribute to accidents, so that you can spare your life and the lives of many others. 

My dad often says, “everyone’s a drunk driver nowadays”, and I didn’t think too much about it until I was older. He would talk about how the only dangers he really had on the road were drunk drivers on the weekend, but with the introduction of mobile phones, it has changed to where you don’t even know if the car next to you is even paying attention. I can recall when I read Mitchel Kiefer’s story, and was hit with the realization that the dangers of the road were truly no longer just about drunk driving. Times were changing, and with that brought a new technology that was distracting many while out on the road. When I began learning how to drive, I promised myself that I would never pick up my phone while driving, especially if I was driving with others or on a busy road. There was this awareness of my surroundings that I didn’t have before, keeping my distance from drivers that were moving suspiciously, or taking different routes to avoid dangerous roads. Driving instructors can play an important role in the attitude people take when on the road, and their main priority is to teach future drivers how to be safe. Educating students on what driving while impaired can actually mean is important, while also helping them develop self-awareness and promote accountability, which can help to reduce the number of accidents that happen. 

As an older sibling and someone who has taken leadership positions, there are many people whom I have influenced with my actions. I have always done my best to set a good example, especially with those who are younger and much more impressionable. Teenagers are the demographic most at risk, and I believe they should be focused on when tackling the issue of driving safety. With new influences and distractions coming out, what feels like everyday, it’s necessary to teach new drivers how detrimental it can be to drive while impaired. Unfortunately, accidents are very common, and there are many people in my community who have either been impacted firsthand or have lost someone close to them. If we as a society work to change and to better ourselves, then we could someday reach a future where these incidents are few and far between. Connecting this to my earlier point, this is also why I believe it is essential for driving instructors to truly teach drivers about the consequences that come with driving while impaired. Making sure that courses teach the outcome of an accident and how lives can be completely altered could help students to see how their actions affect others.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Using a cell phone while driving creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. In 2023, 3,275 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers”. This shows how serious the issue is and how even the government is taking action to end this issue. Drivers shouldn’t worry that basic rules of the road are not being followed, and it should be pushed onto students and parents to make sure that they are setting good examples and making sure to drive safely. 

By recognizing that impairment on the road extends far beyond alcohol or drugs, we can begin to approach driving with the caution and awareness it truly requires. Every moment behind the wheel demands our full attention, and understanding the wide range of factors that can compromise that attention is essential to keeping ourselves and others safe. Whether it’s fatigue, distraction, emotional strain, or a medical condition, acknowledging these risks allows us to make responsible choices before getting on the road. It is important to remember that there is a real person in every vehicle, people just like yourself whose lives do not deserve to be cut short in such a tragic way. In the end, preventing accidents starts with awareness, and that awareness can be the difference between arriving safely and changing lives forever.