Each year in the United States, approximately 12,400 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) people’s lives are ended because of drunk driving. This means that about 34 people each day—one person every 42 minutes—die from something that could have been avoided. Not only are their lives changed, but those of their friends and loved ones will never be the same. This number does not include those who are killed by other forms of impaired driving. That drive home after a long day, a night out, or a moment of distraction can mean a friend, co-worker, or neighbor is stolen from their community. Today, impaired driving accidents have become all too common. You don’t have to look far to find someone deeply affected by impaired driving. Just last month, a police officer in my community was killed in an accident involving an impaired driver. He was taken from his wife and three-month-old child because of the incident. With so much pain caused to the family, the tragedy left me wondering what we as drivers can do to prevent another accident.

What qualifies as impaired driving? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired driving means operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a substance. This can include alcohol and/or other drugs, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or illicit substances. In addition to substance impairment, impairment can be caused by fatigue, emotional stress, or distraction by phone usage. Including all forms of impaired driving, 34,000 people each year are killed. In just five seconds at 55 miles per hour, your car can travel the entire length of a football field—but in those five seconds, entire lives can be ruined. It is not possible to drive safely unless the road has your full attention, and any substance or distraction that affects your focus can be potentially fatal.

When I found out about the poor family deprived of a husband and father, it got me thinking about other impaired driving incidents in my own life. I was reminded of a time when my mother was injured by an impaired driver. As she drove down the highway at 65 miles per hour, a driver bashed into the side of her door—phone in hand. I remember my dad calling to tell me about the accident and the panic I felt when I heard my mom had been in a crash. Luckily, my mom walked away with only a sore neck and a crushed door, but like many others, her situation could have been worse. Impaired driving not only affects the person in the accident—it impacts everyone around them.

Before these incidents, I never truly understood the effect impaired driving has. But after seeing the impact it has had on my community, I know it is a widespread problem. As I get into the car every day, I make sure to limit distractions by putting my phone away and preparing for the drive before turning the key. I also remind my friends of the dangers of impaired driving. Because of the experiences of both my mom and the family in my community, I understand the importance of raising awareness, starting with my peers.

One way we could begin to prevent impaired driving is through driver’s education. This can start not only in the classroom but in students’ daily lives. With many learning by example, older drivers can set a precedent for what safe driving should look like. With distractions down and full focus on the road, experienced drivers can influence the way their younger counterparts drive through their own behavior, encouraging safe habits from a young age.

In addition, students could be educated through personal stories. In my experience, I have found that many people my age respond better to personal experiences than statistics alone. Because of this, it could be more effective to teach students about the consequences of impaired driving through the stories of those around them. Much like the assemblies schools offer to stand up to drugs, they could host victims of impaired driving to tell their stories and leave a lasting impact on students. Instead of warning posters and boring lectures, students could learn from the examples of their peers.

Finally, impaired driving prevention begins not only with individual behavior but within communities. Lawmakers could create tougher impaired driving laws, and police could enforce them more strictly. Teens could start conversations with friends about the impacts of impaired driving through school clubs and programs. Driver’s education could focus more on real-world scenarios than simple memorization of traffic laws. Though these actions may seem small, they can prevent a world of hurt for those they affect.

Impaired driving is an easily preventable cause of tragedy. Each time we get behind the wheel, we make a choice: Do we risk the lives of others for the next distraction, or do we prevent a further tragedy? Drawing on experiences within my life and community, I know that speaking out against impaired driving can change lives. If every driver did the same, we could make the roads safer and prevent the deaths of thousands.