10 days ago, I woke up to the sound of my front bumper smashing into a tree. The next few seconds, all I remember is the sound of my own desperate screams, the blare of the radio, and the sudden appearance of smoke that seemed to be engulfing the interior of my car. As a result of this crash, my femur was fractured, and there was pneumoarthrosis in my knee, which means that outside air entered my knee joint. 

This experience has really given new, personal meaning to what impaired driving means. This experience of driving drowsily has had a huge impact on my life. One week ago, I had to have surgery on my knee, and so risking the drive to meet my friend for dinner left me unable to walk without crutches. I need help to get into bed, and I have not yet begun to traverse the challenge of a flight of stairs. However, I am also acutely aware that I was extremely lucky. I only harmed myself and my car (and a tree) with my dangerous choice. 

Driving impaired is something that I think everyone is aware of. But often, drowsy driving is underreported and underestimated, which is why it can be so dangerous.  Statistics report that 1 in 6 teens admits to driving while drowsy in their first two years of driving. And these drivers have all completed driver's education courses. This statistic shows how common driving drowsiness is today, especially in new drivers. And from personal experience, I am a testament to this statistic and to the results of driving drowsily. The personal exposure to the consequences of driving drowsily has made it even more important to me that drivers get quality education on this type of impaired driving, because the truth is that I was very lucky. I don’t want any other young drivers to experience what I have gone through in the past 10 days.

The most vivid pieces of my crash are the teenagers who helped me out of my car and called 911, and the feeling throughout it all. I remember sitting on the curb crying, holding my phone as I called my mom. I remember the shaking that lasted for hours in the hospital due to shock. I am still, and always will be, so incredibly grateful for those teenagers who helped me out of the car and gave me comfort. I am also so grateful for the support system that has helped me begin to get back into the regular routine of life. This crash has given me the kind of knowledge that I didn’t have before, and even though it has been painful in many ways, it is also an opportunity to educate others and bring awareness to drowsy driving. 

This experience has made me think a great deal about what I could have done differently behind the wheel. We all think about what would happen if we got into a car accident, but do we all think about the steps we can take to prevent it? One of the biggest factors that can save lives when it comes to impaired driving is the education given by driver’s education and traffic school courses. These courses focus on teaching defensive driving and give essential information on the dangers of the types of impaired driving and ways to prevent it. The courses are real-world oriented, as they educate drivers on the very real effects of driving drunk, drowsily, or fatigued, and give practical strategies on what to do when impaired and how to prevent accidents from ever occurring. If I had followed the training and strategies given to me by my driver’s education course, I would not have crashed my car. For example, these driving courses teach each student to plan ahead and, in worst-case scenarios, pull over off the road if they begin to feel drowsy. I could have used this strategy to prevent the totaling of my car. Instead, I chose to continue driving and now have to suffer the consequences. 

This crash, however traumatic and damaging, has helped me realize the importance of driving awake and clear-headed. It has also made me realize that I can be a leader in my social circle and community by advocating for safe and defensive driving. I have gained new knowledge from the experience I have had to go through, and I know I still have a long recovery ahead of me. But the crash I experienced has given me a strong motive to work towards educating others about driving while sleepy, because driving impaired has changed my life dramatically.