To me, impaired driving is the act of being in control of any source of transportation when you have knowingly consumed anything that can alter your physical or mental state. My freshman year of high school, I took a driver’s education course. Through this course, my perspective on impaired driving changed drastically. People misunderstand the meaning of impairment quite frequently. They think that it only means driving while drunk. People are dangerously unaware of the dangers that many substances, other than alcohol, can have.
           Impairment is something many people do not take seriously. People are dangerously convinced that it won’t happen to them. “It’s just one drink” is a common thing to say when you believe you are above the dangers of impairment. Especially when people are young, they want to have as much fun as they can. They might even believe that being impaired is a fun thing they should try at least once. Unfortunately, they are unaware of the consequences. In driver’s education, my class was shown many disturbing videos, including people’s deaths. Although it was scary, I believe it is important that everyone, especially at a young age, is exposed to such tragedies. It teaches them the truth of their actions and the consequences that come with them.
         There are many types of impairment that people do not consider, such as drugs (including over-the-counter medication), using your phone, and a big one we always forget, which is fatigue. Everyone thinks drunk driving is the only form of impairment. Alcohol slows your reaction time and causes you to make poor decisions. In driver’s education, we wore drunk goggles to get an idea of what it was like. We tried activities like walking in a straight line, and it showed me how hard and dangerous even simple tasks become.

Taking drugs, including normal medications, can also impair you. Even if you do not realize it, certain medications can alter your state, even just a little. It is important that when you are using medication, or drugs like marijuana, you are doing so responsibly. Using your phone while driving is another very common cause of accidents. Being on or distracted by your phone can make your mind wander. Even if you are just on a call, your attention can drift away from the road.

The type of impairment people talk about the least, in my opinion, is fatigue. You might think you are just a little tired, but even slight fatigue can slow your thinking and reaction time because your body is basically in sleep mode. I drove home late one night after work and caught myself dozing off at red lights. It was extremely dangerous, and it made me realize you never know what could happen. It is better to wait until you are fully awake.
        During driver’s education, we watched many gruesome deaths caused by impaired drivers. One video I remember vividly is the one that completely changed the way I thought about impaired driving. An innocent man taking a late-night walk to a gas station had his life stolen from him by a drunk driver. He went out to grab some snacks around the same time a woman left the club she was at. She was driving recklessly and didn’t see the man. She crashed into him at full speed and he flew across the street, but it didn’t stop there. She didn’t realize she had hit him and kept driving, which ended with her running his head over and driving off.

Seeing such a terrible scene made me cry. It was scary and deeply disturbing, but it was also incredibly important. It forces you to realize that you can end a life in the blink of an eye if you are irresponsible. I never expected to see something so graphic, but I am glad I did. It made me hyper-aware of my surroundings when I am behind the wheel. I believe every young teen should be shown something this real, because it teaches you how dangerous impaired driving truly is, even if you believe it won’t happen to you.
         Throughout my time in the class, we were required to participate in simulation activities. The most educational activity we completed was the drunk goggles. We were required to put them on and walk in a straight line. We also had to play catch with a classmate, but one of us was “impaired” while the other was completely okay. These activities were extremely disorienting. During the line test, I remember falling while trying to walk straight. Although the class thought it was super funny, I found it really scary. It makes you realize that if you can’t even complete such a simple task while impaired, why would you be able to operate a moving vehicle?
        I truly believe that driver's education courses can change the perspectives people have on impaired driving. Watching live footage of such tragic accidents can make the consequences feel real. It gives people the awareness that things are serious, and just because you think it won’t happen to you, it still can, and you need to stay alert. Completing activities such as drunk goggles helps you get an idea of what impairment actually feels like. This shows you that it is more difficult than you might think. Even simple discussions with your classmates can teach you to be conscious of your decisions. It helps you understand that even if you don’t think it will happen to you, it could happen to anyone. The best way to prevent these tragedies is to avoid driving under any kind of intoxication at all.
       I personally can educate those around me to help prevent impaired driving. I can share the stories I’ve seen, offer impaired people rides home, speak up when I know someone is planning on making a bad decision, and simply use my own knowledge to drive safely. Sharing what I’ve witnessed can help me show others the real dangers of impairment and hopefully prevent them from making the same mistakes. No matter who you are or what your background is, you can still be affected by impaired driving. It is important that every single person is educated on the dangers so we can make the roads a much safer place.