When teleported to the past, wise scientists in the movies always warn, “Don’t even move a chair!” The protagonist is always warned that one small change can affect the future in drastic ways for good or bad. However we often forget that these moments apply to us in the present. One small glance at a text message and Hollywood's next greatest star will never come to be. The words impaired driving often conjure images of drunk drivers in ditches or drug users speeding down suburban roads but impaired driving is much more present than expected. It’s often left unrecognized or even justified by drivers resulting in accidents that change the course of the future, and that sounds scary because it is, but education, awareness, and self responsibility significantly reduce the amount of impaired drivers on the road. 
     Lets jump back in time then, and examine an accident I once found myself in and what the causes were. The man behind the wheel had just finished an overnight shift at the nearby hospital. He was already exhausted from work and hadn’t slept well the previous nights. He was so exhausted he didn’t even see the stop sign. The resulting accident was enough to wake him up though. Currently most drivers only associate impairment with drugs or alcohol. While these substances do result in impaired driving the more common impairments — phone usage, drowsiness, and certain over the counter medications — also cause a lack of focus while driving. Impaired driving therefore, can be any condition that slows your reaction time or distracts you from the complex task of driving. 
     Let's rewind time again, this time focusing on the outcome of the accident. It was Halloween night and a car full of my friends was driving down the road, excited for the haunted house we were traveling to see. WHAM! We were T-boned, bringing an awful end to our spooky plans. Luckily no one was hurt, except for the wallet of the man who T-boned us. Often we overlook accidents caused by impairment that don’t result in injuries, however the financial issues and sudden lack of transportation often result in high levels of stress. A car is often one of the major expenses a household takes up and they continue paying for a car usually for several years afterwards. This means that if a car is totaled in a crash such as above, these households are left without the financial means to use vehicle transportation. Public transportation is often scarcely available in certain areas and can be much more time consuming and even dangerous for certain minorities. Thus the price of impaired driving can be financial, emotional and mental health issues due to stressors, lifelong injuries, and often death.
     My fellow time travelers may now be feeling quite scared to drive. With all of these dangers and stressors many think that we should do away with automobiles completely. However, safe driving is possible as these impairments to driving can be easily mitigated. There are several institutions designed to prevent dangerous crashes. Drivers education, which all new drivers must go through, teaches the basics of driver safety and awareness on the roads, but many don’t realize that you can attend drivers education online creating an accessible method for education. Additionally, traffic schools and virtual driving clinics aim to break down myths and reveal the full scope of impaired driving as well as how to encourage those around you to stop driving if you notice signs of impairment. These courses can also be taken multiple times if you wish to refresh your driving knowledge and skills on a yearly basis.
     Not only is education important for preventing these impaired drivers but also your own ability to speak up when you notice the person in the driver's seat is facing an impairment. While drivers education can teach these skills, your bravery in speaking up and self reflection on your own driving skills can be the final barrier to protecting accidents. If the man in the story had a coworker who said “you look quite tired, let me give you a ride home tonight and I’ll help you pick up your car tomorrow," the entire crash could have been avoided. As drivers we must look out for those around us to not only protect ourselves but our futures.
     Driving can be scary but it doesn’t have to be. Impairments can be caused by many different things and can be incredibly dangerous but these impairments are also preventable. Through drivers education and various safety courses we can become better and safer drivers. Be conscious of your decisions in the moment and speak up to those that may be driving with any form of impairment. Ultimately everyone is responsible for preventing the butterfly effect and protecting the precious lives of those around us through our knowledge of driving and our willingness to drive while impaired.