Impaired driving, to me, isn’t just about being drunk behind the wheel. It’s any moment when a driver isn’t fully present mentally, physically, or emotionally. A lot of people think impaired driving only means alcohol or drugs, but in reality it includes distraction, fatigue, stress, or even just overconfidence. And what makes it frustrating is that people who have taken driver’s ed still misunderstand that. They think passing the class means they’re good drivers forever. But impaired driving is bigger than a test. It’s about constant awareness, maturity, and respect for the responsibility you take on every single time you grab the keys.

I learned that in the hardest way possible. When I was younger, two of my cousins died in a car crash. It wasn’t because someone was drunk or high It was because someone wasn’t paying attention. That one moment, that one careless decision, changed everything for my family. Both of my cousins were the type of people who would put anybody else before themselves. They were sweet, considerate, and genuinely caring. They were the kind of people who would check on you without being asked, help you before doing something for themselves, and make sure everyone around them felt included. Losing people like that people hurts. It hurts too see a person who had so much good in them go away it makes you understand how fragile life is, and how fast it can be taken away.

Even though I was young, that crash shaped the way I think about driving today. I don’t see it as just a skill or something everybody does. I see it as a responsibility that affects more than just me. Every time I get in the car, I think about them. I think about how unfair it was, how it didn’t need to happen, and how easily it could’ve been prevented. Their story lives in the back of my mind, and it makes me more aware of how dangerous even a small distraction can be.

The truth is, the most common impairments among drivers today are things we act like aren’t a big deal. Texting is probably the biggest one. People think they can glance down for two seconds, but in those two seconds a car travels the length of half a football field. I see it all the time my friends scrolling on TikTok, checking Snap, replying to a message, or changing the music like it’s harmless. But distraction changes everything: your reaction time slows, your attention splits, and your awareness drops. Fatigue is another huge impairment, especially for teens. We’re busy with school, sports, jobs, homework and people get behind the wheel tired without thinking twice. But being tired can affect your driving almost the same way alcohol does. When your eyes get heavy, your reactions slow down, and your judgment gets blurry, you’re not driving safely anymore, even if you think you are.

Those are the kinds of impairments that scare me the most, because they’re the ones people ignore. No one thinks, “I’m impaired.” They think, “I’m just tired,” or “It’s only one text,” or “I’ve done this before.” And that mindset is what causes so many crashes.

Driver’s education and traffic safety courses help break that mindset. What makes them effective is how they put everything into real-world context. They don’t just talk about rules, they show you why the rules exist. They share statistics, videos, and real stories that stay with you. Driver’s ed made me look at driving differently. When they show you actual footage of crashes or tell you stories about families who lost loved ones, it hits you in a way a textbook can’t. Those lessons stick with you when you’re out on the road and a notification pops up or when you’re tempted to speed or drive while tired. The training teaches you to pause, think, and make the safer choice.

These programs also change attitudes. Before taking them, a lot of people think driving is something you’re automatically good at once you turn 16. But after going through the lessons, you understand that driving is something you have to respect. It’s something you have to take seriously every single time. And I think that mindset shift is what makes driver’s ed effective in the real world.

As for me, I know I play a role in preventing impaired driving. And because of what happened to my cousins, I don’t take that lightly. I’m very aware of what’s going on around me. I don’t get in the car with someone who looks tired, stressed, or distracted. If I’m riding with someone and they pull out their phone, I’ll say something. If someone speeds or drives carelessly, I’m not afraid to call it out. Some people might think that’s doing too much, but I’d rather speak up and keep everyone safe than stay quiet and regret it later.

My knowledge and training influence how I drive and how I talk to others about driving. I try to be an example. Whether it’s my teammates, younger cousins, or my friends, I want them to understand how serious this is. If my choices or my voice can help prevent even one crash or save even one life, that’s already more than enough for me.

Impaired driving takes lives that don’t deserve to be taken. My cousins were proof of that. They were good people with good hearts, and the world should’ve had more time with them. The least I can do, the least any of us can do is make responsible choices behind the wheel and encourage others to do the same. That’s how we honor people we’ve lost. And that’s how we keep our roads safer for everyone.