Driving under the Influence (DUI) is defined as driving a Motor Vehicle (MV) under the influence of anything (prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, alcohol, fatigue, distractions. For example cell phones that impairs your ability to process information quickly enough to drive safely, therefore posing a threat to you, and to everyone around you; to include, but not limited to, the passengers inside the vehicle, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and other motorists on the road.

The effect of DUI is extremely tragic. I know this first-hand, since I lost my grandmother to a vehicle driven by a driver that was high on marijuana at the time he was operating the vehicle. The driver, who took my grandmother's life and then killed himself, will spend many years in prison and will miss the opportunity to watch his children grow-up. Losing my grandmother showed me how dangerous DUI is and how many more lives are affected than just the driver's life as a result of a DUI.

In addition to the tragedy of a DUI, I have seen firsthand the danger of careless driving and there is no need for the carelessness to be due to an impaired driver. When I lived in Ethiopia, I observed firsthand how little regard most people placed upon traffic laws. One time my mother was driving and a large truck hit her vehicle completely destroying it. Thanks to god, we both were uninjured. Everyone says it a miracle. Since that day, I’ve noticed my mom’s fear of driving, and it made me understand how important it is to stay alert, follow the rules, and respect safety on the road.

Peer pressure on a teenager can increase the level of risk when the teenager is behind the wheel of a vehicle. It has been well-documented that teenagers are often encouraged by their peers to participate in reckless driving activities such as racing, speeding, and texting while driving with their friends in the vehicle in order to "show off" to their peers. Although the risks associated with each of these behaviors appear to be minimal, the consequences of these behaviors can have far-reaching effects on the teenager's life. I've seen this behavior exhibited in my community and I would like to assist in eliminating it through my actions of demonstrating responsible and safe driving behaviors and educating others about the dangers of DUI.

Driver's education and traffic safety courses provide the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid DUI. Driver's education and traffic safety courses teach teenagers the dangers of alcohol and drugs, drowsy driving, and distractions while providing them with strategies for staying safe while driving. Additionally, driver's education and traffic safety courses discuss the potential consequences of DUI such as death and severe legal consequences. In turn, by understanding the consequences of DUI, students realize why it is so important to practice safe driving behaviors. Education has the power to change a person's perspective and lower the chances of an individual participating in risky behaviors and encourage individuals to make better decisions when they are driving a vehicle.

I intend to be a safe and responsible driver and I also intend to be a positive example for others. I have observed my father, a limousine driver, being extremely cautious and safe while he is operating his vehicle. My father will follow the rules of the road and maintain an active focus on the task at hand. Additionally, my father has shown great respect to other vehicles and their operators. I want to use my father as a role model and model how a careful and cautious driver operates their vehicle. I would like to be able to make safe and thoughtful decisions each time I get behind the wheel of my vehicle. Therefore, I plan to operate my vehicle in a responsible manner and in a safe manner by not drinking alcoholic beverages or taking illegal substances prior to operating my vehicle, by keeping my eyes on the road and minimizing my distractions, and by reporting individuals to law enforcement that I observe are jeopardizing the safety of themselves or others while operating a motor vehicle. I would also like to continue to share my experiences with others and to inform people about the dangers of unsafe driving.

Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. However, impaired driving may be prevented through proper education to individuals and through personal responsibility in an individual’s actions. Through my own experiences, the loss of my grandmother, having a potentially fatal automobile accident and learning from my father, I have developed a strong desire to develop and promote a culture of safe and responsible drivers who believe that the value of a person's life is paramount and make good choices while operating a vehicle and to assist others in making the same good choices.