“You wield a weapon. Make sure you use it wisely.” This was the first thing my dad said to me my first ever time on the road. Ever since I began driving, it was ingrained in my head that cars could do serious harm when operated dangerously or by the wrong person. As a driver, safety should always be your number one priority. This includes your own safety, as well as the safety of your passengers, other cars you are sharing the road with and their passengers, pedestrians, road crew workers, and the numerous other people that may be at risk if something goes awry. Therefore, I consider impaired driving any form of driving where safety isn’t the driver’s number one priority. 

Impaired driving can include “traditional” forms, such as from alcohol or drug use, fatigue, as well as verbal or visual distractions, but with technological advancements there are also modern forms of impaired driving that consist of texting, scrolling on social media, and the use of a car’s infotainment display. The dangers of impaired driving are more frequently associated with the traditional forms of impairment, as these are the ones that were seen more commonly in the past. Due to our ignorance towards the modern impaired driving, the assumption is made that if someone avoids drinking and drugs while driving, they aren’t impaired. However, driving impaired is a more common occurrence than people think. Even when you are having a conversation with your passengers or on the phone, your reaction time, motor skills, and concentration are all impaired. 

Impaired driving can often be a taboo subject. It is human nature to desire being good at something, and driving is no different. The desire to be considered a good driver explains why many may feel ashamed or afraid to admit when they get into an accident or act irresponsibly on the road. However, humans are not superheroes, and we must be able to admit that no one drives at 100% efficiency all the time. Additionally, the prevalence of texting as a second nature activity in the modern era has led us to become too immune to its consequences. People have become so adjusted and well adapted to multitasking with technology that it feels as though it has no impairment on our other abilities.

A key aspect of safe driving is being defensive and avoiding being in a position where offensive, or risky maneuvers are required. Distraction reduces someone’s prioritization of scanning ahead, maintaining an awareness of surrounding vehicles, and adjusting to changing road conditions. I have personal experiences of witnessing someone drive while distracted. Once, a friend told me that they frequently scroll on social media while driving; a moment that changed my perception of impaired driving forever. That is when I realized that impaired driving could be intentional, and therefore preventable. It terrified me that some drivers do not consider other people’s safety as their responsibility. I am now aware of how other drivers on the road may not be thinking about safety in the same way, and I feel that it is part of my duty as a driver to protect others, not only from myself, but also from themselves. 

Upon reflection, in the past when I have encountered someone driving with distraction, I have either responded passively or not at all. I feel guilty knowing that my inaction could have been the reason someone could have been seriously harmed. In the future, I hope to have a more active role in discouraging impaired driving, not only when I’m a passenger in someone’s car, but when I’m driving and when I’m not on the road at all. Leading with example is the best way to show others how they should behave, as we learn best by observing others. 

Unfortunately, many do not realize the true severity of impaired driving until they witness it first-hand. With the intention of demonstrating the consequences that driving impaired can have on the lives of many, driving education programs could dedicate a portion of their course to show students examples of real world scenarios. Rather than simply sharing the statistics of motor vehicle accidents, traffic school courses could zoom in to specific situations where an individual’s impairment led to devastating outcomes on the road. Although these measures may be frightening, they also protect students from future danger. If they ever have the opportunity to drive impaired, they will hopefully remember the consequences faced in the examples and alter their behaviours to make the smarter, safer choice.