Once upon a time, in a far away land, lived a prince and a princess who were madly in love. Their hearts belonged to one another, and every adventure they embarked on, they faced side by side. 

One restless night, the princess persuaded the prince to join her on an exhilarating ride across the land upon their horses. Though they had done this countless times before, this night was special, charged with the excitement of tomorrow’s wedding. 

For the special occasion, the princess prepared two drinks using potions from the castle laboratory. These potions were designed to make the already magical land feel even more enchanting. Although, the princess was unaware that the potion would cloud her judgement and reasoning.

They mounted their horses, and under the potion’s subtle impairment, soon turned their playful ride into a race. Laughter filled the cool night air as they sped across the open fields. Up ahead, they spotted a narrow path they had never traveled before. Lacking their judgement and reasoning, they turned toward it, unaware of the danger. Beside the path loomed a vast, unseen cliff. 

In an attempt to pass the prince, the princess urged her horse forward, but it was too fast. By the time she noticed the edge of the cliff, it was too late. Her frantic pull on the reins failed, and she plunged into the darkness, the impact fatal. 

The prince rode on, unaware at first that she was gone. When he finally realized, his heart shattered into a million pieces. He called her name, but there was no answer. Grief consumed him; he could hardly breathe, haunted by the memory of her laughter and the joy they had shared. Only then did he realize the potion had clouded their minds that night. Had they taken the precautions, and not drank the potion, the princess may still be alive. Now, they would never get to live their happily ever after that once lied ahead. 

~

This story, while fantastical, mirrors the real danger that teens face every day on our roads. Unfortunately, impaired driving is not confined to fairytales or cautionary stories. This is a true story of a young girl from my home town, who lost her life in a fatal accident caused by street racing while under the influence of alcohol, adrenaline, and peer pressure. 

Impairment refers to a state of mental or physical dysfunction that affects a person’s ability to perform tasks safely. It can occur within the body or mind when substances such as drugs or alcohol are introduced, or when distractions interfere with focus and judgement. This can include texting while driving, using drugs or alcohol, fatigue, and other distractions such as peer pressure or the influence of friends. Even loud music can impair the brain's ability to think clearly by creating a distraction. 

When our thoughts and actions are impaired, our judgement slows and our ability to process information is diminished. This can result in unsafe driving, posing a danger not only to the impaired driver but to everyone else sharing the road.

The teen girl who was killed in the fatal accident not only put herself at risk, but also endangered everyone in the car and everyone else on the road. Peer pressure and alcohol can quickly lead someone down the wrong path, just as it did the princess. That night, she lost her life; her brother lost his sister, her best friend lost her best friend, and her mother lost her daughter. 

It’s devastating to hear about, and even more heartbreaking to live through. If the prince and princess had made safer decisions—if they had ridden safely, taken precautions, and avoided the potion—the princess may still be alive. Stories like these should prompt drivers to seriously consider the choices they make behind the wheel. 

Driver’s education courses are designed to teach road and traffic safety and should be taken seriously. Anyone who understands the full and real effects of impaired driving should take every precaution to stay alert and drive safely. These courses are especially crucial today, in a society where distractions like cell phones, loud music, drugs, and alcohol are normalized and encountered daily. Courses are designed to teach young drivers the importance of road safety, the potential consequences of not following traffic rules, and the risks of ignoring the signals of their mind and body.

To prevent impaired driving if not completely avoiding impairment hazards, it is important to always have someone who is sober and capable ready to take the wheel if necessary. Additionally, stay aware of your surroundings and remain alert to what is happening on the road and in your car. Turn down the music and keep your mind focused by practicing attentive driving skills. Do not forget to remind your friend of the deadly consequences of impaired driving, so they stay safe on the road. 

Statistically, if not impaired, the prince and princess would have been twelve times less likely to steer their horses in the wrong direction and ride dangerously. Sadly, no fairytale could have saved the princess—only her awareness could have kept her alive.