Impaired driving is a big issue that can be prevented very easily. Many injuries and deaths have happened over the decades because of it, and it’s tragic that so many deaths and injuries happen over something so preventable. Often, impaired driving is only understood to include drunk driving, while distracted driving is not acknowledged as much as it should be. The harm that alcohol brings into driving certainly shouldn’t be downplayed, but it also should not be regarded as the only thing that causes impaired driving. A variety of things, such as looking at your phone, looking at the passenger while carrying on a conversation, looking around the environment too much, being too tired, operating the car radio, eating food or drinking, and also thinking about a certain thing more than focusing on driving, can and will lead to injuries or death. People will also justify these kinds of actions by saying that it’s better than drunk driving, but ultimately, the outcome between all of them can lead to the same result. Not enough people behind the wheel take into consideration how whatever it is distracting them can badly affect the rest of not just their life, but another person’s life too.

All the problems I mentioned above can and will deter a person from paying attention to the road. Alcohol delays reaction time, looking at your passenger or your phone or your radio makes you unable to see the road, eating food or drinking a beverage makes you unable to use one of your hands, being tired can make you very unaware of what is going on around you, and being more focused on a thing that isn’t driving can distract from focusing on the road. These things can and must be set aside. Don’t drink alcohol before or while driving, save your texts and calls for when you park, save your food and drink for when you get home, go to a rest stop when tired, and if possible, have someone else drive for you under extreme stress. Your own predicaments or conveniences should not impact the safety of others sharing the road.

I’m familiar with a story about an accident that emphasized the importance of focused driving. Someone I know looked at their radio while approaching a red light and ended up rear-ending the driver in front of them, totaling the car. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the drivers knew each other. Therefore, the lawsuit wasn’t as bad as it could have and most likely would have been were it someone she didn’t know. It is not just stories, though, that have helped me. There were many times that I had made a mistake when doing driving practice with my dad. He was firm in how he pointed out what I did wrong and what can happen from making such mistakes. At the time, I responded defensively, minimizing the mistake. Now, I am thankful for the lesson and how firm he was because I now understand how dangerous it is to not be focused on the road. 

Places that involve educating drivers can help prevent impaired driving by discussing issues in driving seriously enough to where the drivers understand the consequences, but not so seriously to where the students are scared of driving. Driver’s education places are sometimes too lenient on those who don’t focus enough on driving. Therefore, the student drivers don’t fully comprehend the consequences of their mistakes. In another sense, I feel like the minimum age for a person getting their driver’s license should no longer be 16 years old. In my personal opinion, the age of 16 is now too young because teenagers get too little practice and have too many distractions to go from having a permit for only a year to having a driver’s license. I feel like the minimum age should be raised by a year or two so that people can get much more practice to ensure that they’re safe and responsible drivers. I think a way that I can help to prevent impaired driving is that whenever I am riding with someone that becomes distracted by something, I politely point it out in a way where they understand, but also don’t get upset over it. I feel like everyone should aim to do what they can to avoid preventing impaired driving because, if it’s only law enforcement and the government providing deterrence, not as many people will understand the ramifications of distracting oneself with such a small thing while driving.