To me, impaired driving is a situation in which the driver is in a dangerous state where they are physically or mentally unable to drive. Impaired driving is often misunderstood, even by drivers who have completed driver’s education, because many assume and underestimate how quickly impairment can happen. People assume impairment is obvious and underestimate how quickly it can occur. After training and getting their license, drivers become overconfident that they fully understand the risk of impaired driving.

The most common types of impairment among drivers that I have personally seen include texting and fatigue. Texting causes the driver to be distracted and not entirely aware of what is happening around them. Sure, they could be driving slowly or taking short breaks to look at their mirrors, but they are still at risk of causing an accident. The brain is focused on typing sentences on a screen which requires your eyes to look off the road! I know that when I’m texting someone, I can’t get myself to focus on the conversation occurring in front of me or what has changed in my surroundings. So, I know for a fact that a driver’s ability is completely affected by texting! 

Fatigue can impair driving in ways that resemble the effects of alcohol. When a driver is drowsy, they tend to underestimate how their exhaustion impacts their ability to stay alert and focused behind the wheel. Many drivers may believe that their willpower to get to where they want to go could keep them safe and energized enough to get through the drive. In actuality, fatigue slows their reaction time and reduces their awareness, alongside with their decision-making skills! A driver’s fatigue that might seem like nothing could lead them to be an impaired driver at a high risk of getting into an accident.

At least 9 years ago, I experienced being the passenger of an impaired driver—he is my uncle. He took me and my cousins out to a friend of his. They planned to catch up on life and have his kids spend time with me and my cousins. When we entered his friend’s home, I recall him saying that he would not drink a lot since he had to drive back home that night. 

Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly), he drank much more than he should have. Despite that, he said goodbye to his friend and got us in the car. Everything was calm, but the moment we drove out of the neighborhood and got onto the main roads, my uncle began to freak out! He was yelling things like “Oh, what have I done!” and “How are we gonna make it home? I'm so scared!” He was hollering all of this while a bunch of children were sitting in the backseat of his car. Instead of calmly getting out of the road to stop somewhere, he relied on me and my cousin to lead him the way back home! It goes without saying, we were all shaking in fear throughout that entire ride.

Fortunately, we made it home that night. This traumatic experience heavily influenced how I drive and how I react to possible impaired driving situations. For example, whenever I hear my peers are going out to a party, I always ask how they will get there, who will be driving, and whether or not they plan on drinking.

Courses in driver’s education and traffic school can change attitudes around impaired driving by sharing real-world stories and experiences throughout the lessons. Hearing about actual incidents makes the dangers feel more real, rather than just a “possible outcome.” People tend to dismiss the risks as unlikely until they know examples of accidents and tragedies that took place in recent years. These heartbreaking narratives can create emotional engagement among students that is far more persuasive than statistics and numbers on a scale. By combining factual information with real stories, these programs encourage drivers to adopt safer behaviors and make responsible decisions on the road. The blend of education and emotional impact is what makes driving education programs effective in real-world situations.

I could continue to play the role of someone who cares to ask questions and bring in solutions to avoid impaired driving. As I said earlier, I react to possible situations of impaired driving with questions. I never hesitate to ask whether the driver plans on drinking or whether they have had enough sleep before getting on the road. My training and questions could influence others to also ask questions, avoid becoming an impaired driver, and prevent their peers from becoming impaired drivers as well!