When most people think of impaired driving, they immediately think of alcohol or drugs; however, impairment goes far beyond that. About 25 years ago, in his final years of college, my father unknowingly put his life in serious danger. As an architecture student studying at the University of Buffalo, he stayed awake for three days straight to meet a project deadline. After submitting his work, he slept for the entire next day to make up for all of the hours of sleep he had lost. The following morning, he began an eight hour drive home to Long Island. About three hours into the trip, he started experiencing episodes of microsleeps and decided that it was best for him to stop at the next rest stop to take a nap; however, he never made it there. As he approached an overpass, he fell asleep at the wheel and drove up the guardrail. Had he veered left, the car would have fallen off of the side of a hill and he likely would have died. Instead, it veered right, remaining on the road. His car flipped and spun repeatedly until finally it stopped, facing oncoming traffic, just as a Mac truck ran over his windshield. His Jeep was completely crushed and totaled, yet somehow he survived with just a scratch on his elbow. If my father had not survived that horrible crash, I would not be here today. His experience has made me deeply aware of the consequences of driving while impaired. I know never to drink and drive or use drugs before getting behind the wheel, not only because it is illegal, but because it can be deadly. What many people don't consider is that driving while exhausted can be just as dangerous. 

Impaired driving refers to operating a motor vehicle when a person’s ability to drive safely is compromised by any factor that can affect their perception, coordination or reaction time. When hearing “impaired driving,” many assume this means being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, yet it is much more than that. Impaired driving refers to not only substances including alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or illegal drugs, but also fatigue and distracted driving. Impaired driving can not only endanger the driver but also passengers, pedestrians, and others on the road. 

Despite its serious implications, impaired driving is often misunderstood even by individuals who have taken driver’s education courses or attended driver’s school. One main reason for this misconception is that driver’s educational programs heavily focus on the dangers of being impaired by alcohol while driving; however, they do not put as much emphasis on other forms of impairment including texting while driving, prescriptions medications, fatigue, or distractions inside or outside of the car. In addition, people tend to believe that they are invincible and that they won't be impacted. For this reason, they quickly check their phones or drive with too little sleep to function. This false sense of control can lead someone to make dangerous choices behind the wheel. 

Today, the most common types of impairment include alcohol consumption, drug use, distracted driving, and fatigue. Since social media has had a huge influence on people’s daily lives, drivers-especially young adults- are inclined to look at their phones while driving. This distraction takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off of driving.Taking your eyes off of the road for even 5 seconds can cause life altering consequences. While texting and driving can cognitively affect one’s driving ability, alcohol and drug use physically impairs the body’s ability to function behind the wheel. These substances can affect decision-making, slow reaction time, and cause blurry vision, all hazardous conditions that can put people’s lives at risk. One of the most overlooked impairments is driving while fatigued. Drivers that are sleep deprived have slowed reaction time, poor focus on the road, and can even experience episodes of “microsleeps.” When a driver is mentally exhausted, they may close their eyes for a few seconds and drift into involuntary sleep. This can cause the driver to blow through a stop sign, drift into other lanes, crash into another vehicle and ultimately create a very dangerous situation. 

Drivers education and traffic school courses play an essential role in changing attitudes and behaviors around impaired driving by bringing awareness to the dangerous situations that result from driving while impaired. These programs teach students the mechanics of driving, the rules of the road, how to stay safe while driving, etc. They expose the students to real life crashes, injury, and impairment scenarios; therefore, seeing these emotional examples help students make more conscious and responsible decisions to avoid driving while impaired. In addition, when these students see how impairment affects their reaction time, judgement, and coordination, they become more aware of how dangerous impairment really is. Some of these courses also use hands-on experiences such as driving simulators or impairment goggles to mimic what being under the influence feels like, even if it is just a small amount. As these concepts are repeated and reinforced, students develop a stronger understanding of why driving while impaired is dangerous, which helps them make safer decisions on the road. 

I can play an important role in preventing impaired driving by making responsible choices and setting a positive example for others on the road. I can also influence friends and family to make safer decisions on the road and share what I know about risks and consequences, so that they can understand why driving under the influence is never worth it. Ultimately, by staying responsible and encouraging others to do the same, I can make a real difference in reducing impaired driving.