Impaired driving, to me, means operating a vehicle when you’re not in the right physical or mental state to make safe decisions. Google defines impaired driving as operating a vehicle while your ability to do so safely is compromised by substances like alcohol or drugs, including prescription or over-the-counter medications. I agree with that, but I also think the issue goes deeper. I don’t always see it as a misunderstanding. Sometimes people truly do know better. The problem is that they disregard the risks due to lack of care, overconfidence, or thinking “it won’t happen to me.” Impairment can also be misunderstood because the person is impaired while trying to judge whether they’re okay to drive. If you’re under the influence or haven’t had enough rest, your brain simply isn’t working at its best. Your decision-making isn’t clear, your reaction time slows down, and you convince yourself you’re fine when you’re actually a danger to everyone around you.

Today, some of the most common types of impairment come from alcohol, drugs, texting, and fatigue. But in my generation specifically, marijuana has become extremely normalized and popular. At the same time, phones are honestly the biggest distraction for most people. What people don’t realize is that driving high isn’t harmless. Marijuana affects your reaction time, your sense of distance, and your ability to process what’s happening around you. And phones take it even further. When you’re texting or scrolling while driving, you completely take your eyes off the road. Science has already proven that the brain cannot multitask; it simply switches between tasks really fast, but it cannot do two things at once. So, if your brain is switching back and forth between your phone and the road, you aren’t fully focused on either. That’s how mistakes happen, and mistakes on the road can be deadly.

My views on impaired driving changed even more because of a situation I personally went through. I was at my friend’s prom, and at one point, I followed him into a car, thinking we were just going to sit for a moment. What I walked into was the complete opposite of safety. The driver was drinking, smoking, and possibly using even more than that. He was in no shape, mentally, physically, or legally, to be behind the wheel, especially not with three other passengers in the car. But despite all of that, he insisted he needed to go pick something up. My friend decided to ride along, and even though I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to be stranded alone at a prom. So I got in the car. The whole ride, I was praying. I knew he wasn’t capable of driving safely. He was speeding, making sharp turns, drifting out of his lane, doing everything a sober, responsible driver would never do. I remember gripping the seat and silently hoping we made it back. When we finally returned, it genuinely felt like a blessing. That moment taught me something I will never forget: staying silent is dangerous. I could have spoken up. I could have said, “You shouldn’t be driving,” or gotten out of the car. But I stayed quiet out of fear and pressure, and it wasn’t worth it. That experience changed the way I think about impaired driving forever, because I realized how fast one careless decision could’ve changed my entire life.

Driver’s education and traffic safety courses can make a real difference because they show these dangers in a way that sticks. In my high school, we had a day where we got to simulate impaired driving with alcohol and marijuana goggles. I failed every single test. Even knowing it wasn’t real, I couldn’t walk straight, could barely judge distance, and had no balance. That hands-on experience teaches life lessons that lectures alone can’t. You realize you cannot “beat” impairment. You can’t outsmart it, you can’t “hold your liquor,” and no amount of confidence makes you more capable behind the wheel. These programs work because they take the risk out of theory and show you how impaired you really are.

Personally, I know I can play a role in preventing impaired driving just by speaking up. I learned from my prom experience that silence can put your life in danger. If I ever see someone trying to drive impaired, whether they’re drunk, high, tired, or glued to their phone, I will not hesitate to say something. I also know that people around my age often think they’re invincible or that they drive better “buzzed” or “relaxed.” But sometimes hearing the truth from a peer hits different. My own awareness and confidence in my choices can influence others to make safer decisions.

There is no valid reason to drive impaired today. With ride-sharing options like Lyft and Uber, plus designated drivers and public transportation, no one has an excuse. I want to be someone who not only makes responsible decisions for myself but also encourages others to do the same. Because one conversation, one moment of courage, or one ride-share app can be the difference between life and tragedy.