What is impaired driving? Impaired driving is driving while your ability to operate a vehicle safely is compromised by substances, distractions, or fatigue. Many times, the term impaired driving is misunderstood, as people feel it only is referring to driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even the best and most educated drivers can be impaired in some way when driving. Many drivers are impaired daily while driving and don’t realize it, whether they are multi-tasking or fatigued. Impaired driving no matter the type, can result in terrible consequences that can be prevented.  

              There are many types of impairments while driving and they all can impact the driver. The one we think of first is the use of alcohol and drugs. This can create a slower reaction time, poor judgement and blurred vision when operating a vehicle.  Another impairment is the use of a cell phone while driving, whether that is texting or calling. This creates a cognitive distraction where you take your eyes off the road and can delay your response to situations because you are not fully attentive. Fatigue is another impairment. Being fatigued can cause reduced alertness, which has similar effects to alcohol impairment. All of these can lead to unsafe behaviors while driving such as speeding, lane drifting, or missed sign and signals. I believe that the most common type that drivers today encounter is the use of cell phones while driving. Even though laws in my state prohibit the use of cell phones while driving, I still see this on a daily basis. The focus on driving is not 100% when people use their cell phone. The cognitive load is sometimes more focused on the text or call, leading to missed signals or signs, and a higher possibility for an accident.  

The pure panic I felt when seeing a car enter my lane, is a feeling I can’t fully describe. Split second decisions had to be made to avoid an accident. I am fortunate that the few times this has happened to me, I was able to slow down or quickly change lanes. In these incidents, when I went passed the individuals, they were distracted by their cell phone. In my high school parking lot when leaving school, I have to be cautious because students are exiting from many directions and on many occasions, I have had to slam on brakes to avoid being hit. I see a lot of students on their phone, or laughing with a friend in their car. They are not fully engaged in driving safely. I feel that when I get behind the wheel of my vehicle, that it is a privilege and something to not take lightly, as many people’s lives are in jeopardy when you drive. You have to pay attention to everything and everyone and you don’t have time to be distracted because in a split second something could happen.

              Raising awareness to impaired driving is important. Drivers need to truly understand the consequences that can arise. One way to educate people about this would be to have school assemblies where people discuss and share real life scenarios of accidents that occurred because of impairments. Driving courses could also be offered as a pre-requisite for getting your permit and driving license. Teenagers love social media, so having a campaign on TikTok or Instagram, could also bring awareness to this issue.  Our school requires all drivers who want a parking spot to take a national course called Alive at 25. In this course you learn about many aspects of safe driving. I like that our school requires this for drivers, to ensure that everyone is informed about safe driving.

              Impaired driving is around us daily, and it is important to be focused while driving. My parents always told me that when I am driving it is also my responsibility to pay attention to the drivers around me as well as the road in front of me. I understand this more and more each day, because if I am not fully present and paying attention, the actions of another could affect me. All accidents are not preventable, but a lot of them are, so I vow to always be present when driving. My life and the life of others are important, and the actions I take when behind the wheel affect everyone on the road. 

Impaired driving affects me as well as everyone else on the road on a daily basis. I see many drivers on their phones, or paying attention to what’s happening inside their car instead of what’s happening on the road. This puts many people in danger on a daily basis. It is urgent that everyone understand what impaired driving consists of, and takes responsibility to eliminate it. By committing to be mentally present when you are behind the wheel, we can protect ourselves and others while driving, causing a safer driving experience for everyone.