I will never forget the day my mom came home in tears, crying uncontrollably. I remember my dad racing over to her, giving her a big hug, and saying, "I'm so sorry, babe." I watched, stunned, because my mom is a police officer, and I never saw her come home from work crying. I later found out that one of my mom's friends, who was a dispatcher named Crystal Nuncio, was killed by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 635. The devastation in my mom's voice was heartbreaking. I remember days later, my mom took me to the hospital to visit Crystal's daughter, who was also involved in the crash and seriously injured. We sat there for hours reading Little Red Riding Hood: A Wolf's Perspective (my favorite book when I was younger) and other princess fairy tales. I had never been to a hospital before, and I distinctly remember the shock I felt when I saw Crystal's daughter bandaged across her chest. That image and memory will also stick with me and have significantly influenced the way I drive today, as well as how I view drunk drivers.

Ever since that day, my mom has come home with so many stories, telling me she needs me to understand that just because you are driving safely doesn't mean the other driver is. She constantly tells me to have my "head on a swivel" when I am driving. My mom refuses to let me drive after midnight and repeats the same stories to me about a 21-year-old who played a game of "21 shots" on his birthday and left the bar drunk. The man collided with an old lady, and she died in the accident. She would tell me how she worked an accident where the older brother took his younger brother to a party, and they both left drunk. The older brother crashed his car into a light pole, and his younger brother lost a leg in the accident. I feel my mom has done a successful job shaping my awareness of recognizing potential impaired drivers and handling the situation if and when it ever occurs.  

So what is impaired driving? To me, impaired driving can be a driver who is driving a vehicle fatigued, or intoxicated by the consumption of alcohol, the use of medication, or illicit drugs. I believe driver fatigue or the use of prescribed medication is the most misunderstood factor in impaired driving. All too often, people associate impaired driving with the consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, frequently forgetting that prescribed medication and driver fatigue can also significantly affect one's judgment and coordination. Even people who take driver education programs or attend traffic schools can misunderstand impaired driving because usually these schools focus on laws of the road and driving safely behind the wheel, and spend little if any time on the continuous awareness of how substances or fatigue affect one's driving abilities. 

Alcohol is the number one type of impairment among drivers today, and the leading cause of about one-third of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. The following common types of impairment are illegal and legal consumption of drugs, followed by drowsy driving and distracted driving. The impairments listed above diminish a person's ability to drive with sound judgment, affect their reaction time to sudden changes, and reduces their ability to assess situations accurately, which creates unsafe driving behavior.   

Driver's education and traffic schools can help influence people's attitudes and behaviors about impaired driving. These programs can educate people about the risks and consequences of impaired driving, leaving them with the knowledge to make safer choices and focusing on real-life consequences that involve testimonials from people who were affected by impaired driving incidents, such as victims, the family of victims, or law enforcement personnel. Listening to stories about the devastating impact that impaired driving has on people can reinforce the seriousness of the issue and encourage empathy, which can make the consequences feel more real.  

Driver's education and traffic schools can implement behavioral techniques, encourage peer support, and focus more on the legal and financial consequences of impaired driving. Behavioral change strategies such as self-reflections and scenario-based training can give someone a sense of responsibility about how they drive. Peer support can promote a culture of accountability among peers who can encourage a friend to call a cab or appoint a designated driver. Lastly, focusing on programs highlighting the legal and financial repercussions of impaired driving may deter people from making reckless choices. 

Understanding how impaired driving impacts lives through the stories my mom shares and what I've learned in my driver's education courses, I believe I can play a significant role in preventing impaired driving. I can promote education and awareness, set a positive example for my peers, and encourage open discussions. This will help create an environment where individuals feel comfortable addressing their poor driving habits, ultimately combating impaired driving. My goal is to inspire others with my commitment to safe driving while educating people about the severe consequences of impaired driving.