When I was taking my online courses to earn my driving lessons, they provided many videos showcasing real horror stories from people who drove while impaired. The scariest part to me is hearing how impaired drivers have been the reason that their friends were killed, but the driver still lives. The guilt of knowing that your immature actions caused the death of the people closest to you is one of my greatest fears. I believe that alone should be a wake up call for people when it comes to impaired driving. It’s not just about your safety, when you get behind a wheel you are responsible for the lives of your passengers. Teenage especially need to know that it is not cool do be drunk or high while driving. As a teenager myself I will hear people brag and think it is cool to smoke in a vehicle, which doesn't only endanger your life but those around you. You may think "it will never happen to me", but you could lose your life at any second while impaired. Like the stories I mentioned previously, you don't want to wake up in the hospital hearing that you were the only survivor in a crash with your friends.  After hearing of these devastating stories I promised myself I would never put anyone in that kind of danger. It made me aware that I could never live with myself if I was the cause of someone’s death due to impairment. I learned to appreciate those around me, because even if you do drive safely you can still get in a terrible accident because of others. So why would you add impairment on top of that? Only to make a larger risk for you and your passengers safety. Not only can you take the lives of people inside your vehicle, but outside of it as well. I have seen many stories on the news of impaired drivers hitting someone on the road, or even slamming into buildings. When you are impaired behind the wheel it changes your mindset, it can cause you to make risky decisions on the road without care. One story I heard was of a girl who was on drugs crashed her car into a wall on purpose because she got angry at her boyfriend. Which killed him and his friend in the car, but left her alive. Being impaired like this can cause you to do things you wouldn't normally think of, like driving recklessly. All of these stories have influenced me to stay away from people who associate with drugs and alcohol, especially in vehicles. Because if you bring people who indulge in these actions irresponsibly in your life, you are bound to follow down that path and do the same. I will continue to surround myself with responsible people who understand the dangers of the road. I always drive extra careful with friends and keep in mind how much I care for those who are passengers in my vehicle. I want to keep everyone in my car safe just as I hope others would do for me. In the future, when I can legally drink, I will continue to have this mindset. I will never get behind the wheel impaired because an accident can happen in an instant. I encourage people to be responsible, call an Uber if you are impaired, inform your friends of the dangers of driving in that state and don't be afraid to correct their wrongs. It's better to have your friend be upset with you than having a dead friend because you let them go driving while impaired, or you driving impaired yourself. So in conclusion, being impaired behind the wheel is never okay because you risk the lives of those around you. I will continue to work to be the most responsible driver I can be. That includes only getting behind the wheel when I have a clear head. This will insure that passengers in my vehicle are safe, along with those around me on the road. I will also not allowing impaired people in my vehicle to better avoid accidents or any negative influences. I hope that stories like the ones I have mentioned in my essay encourage people to think of the safety of those around them. To put the lives of their passengers first instead of deciding to drive while impaired. If we all continue to follow these guidelines it will help prevent any unnecessary accidents due to impairment.