According to the World Health Organization, about 1.19 million people die each year in car crashes. Although this number may seem small compared to the world population, 1.19 million is a fourth of Kentucky’s population. Most people believe that impaired driving is solely based on intoxication, using a cell phone or a physical problem, when in reality, there are more factors that can cause a driver to shift their focus. To me, impaired driving is anything that disrupts a person’s mental, emotional or physical state while they are behind the wheel, potentially causing damage to themselves, another person or their environment; any type of distraction can offset a person’s ability to drive, putting themselves and others in danger while on the road. When I took a driver’s class to obtain my full license, a section about impaired driving was included, but it did not go into full detail about additional distractions, such as a previous emotional situation, anger, a distraction inside the vehicle, etc; there are many other disruptions outside of the most common distractions. 

The most common impairments I have seen in drivers is drug or alcohol consumption, using their cell phones, talking to someone in the vehicle, zoning out, focusing on the music they are listening to or just not paying attention to their driving at all. There have been many times I have come close to hitting another vehicle or have come close to getting hit because someone was not aware of their environment. For Kentucky, there is a manual that contains facts about distracted driving and how to prevent it. The biggest impairment that causes severe outcomes is driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 34 people die every day in drunk driving crashes. Alcohol, no matter how small the intake, can modify your thinking and body. The same article states that a blood alcohol concentration of .02 can alter your judgment, causing the driver to be unaware of moving objects around them. 

Continuing on impaired driving, I have experienced distraction while driving. One day while I was working, I took my break and drove to Starbucks. I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings and I hit a car. The situation was traumatizing, leaving me embarrassed and scared to drive in a small parking lot. Since the accident, I am sure to always be aware of the way I turn my car and how fast I’m going when I pass someone. I have become more aware of my surroundings to ensure I will not put myself in danger again. To add, I have had a family member recently passed away due to a car crash. The driver was distracted, colliding with him on the driver’s side. These situations, despite the difference in severity, have opened my eyes to the danger of driving, setting my focus on my speed, eliminating any distractions in the car and keeping my eyes on the road at all times. 

A driver’s course is beneficial to anyone, no matter their level of experience. It is important to understand the risks of driving and how specific distractions can affect different situations. Offering a class to improve driving and teaching the dangers of driving can decrease the amount of vehicle crashes and deaths caused by them. For example, teaching someone who is close to turning 21 years old about the dangers and deaths caused by drunk driving could influence them to make logical decisions about alcohol consumption, such as refusing substances before driving or having a sober driver to maintain the vehicle. A course like this can shift attitudes towards the true risk of driving.

Preventing impaired driving starts with the person behind the wheel. As a driver, it is important to keep others safe, not just myself. Staying off of my phone while driving, abstaining from substances, constantly checking my surroundings, paying attention to the road and practicing safe driving habits can mold me into a safer driver. I find myself in the most dangerous situations due to someone else’s driving choices; the best thing you can do while in a vehicle is practice safe driving habits and become aware of other drivers. To help others drive safer, I will teach my future children how to drive. Helping my kids understand the safest tactics when driving can create a higher amount of responsible drivers on the road. 

Driving is a privilege, and it is important that we handle it with care. Loss of life to car accidents is common, and it’s our job to make this occurrence rare.