Everyone has their own idea of what impaired driving is; some may claim that they’re fully capable of driving despite having drunk several cans of beer, in contrast to others who won’t drive if they’re too tired. In my opinion, impaired driving is when one’s senses aren’t at full capacity or at least aren’t being properly used, whether because of alcohol, drugs, tiredness, or being distracted, like texting. 

Unfortunately, many people underestimate the huge effect these actions and conditions can have! For one, I heard several excuses that underplay these things, such as how drinking actually helps them become more coordinated (they would say as they stumble over their own feet), or they overestimate how good they are at multitasking, yet don’t realize the stoplight has turned green because they’re busy texting. Admittedly, I’m guilty of minimizing the severe effect fatigue can have on me, which slows my reaction speed. However, I take it more seriously now and set my boundaries about not driving while fatigued, especially after being diagnosed with sleep apnea. 

In addition to people downplaying impaired driving, texting is certainly something several folks, young and old, are guilty of doing as they drive due to the rising usage and dependence on technology. Which reminds me of some streamers who were live-streaming themselves driving, showing they weren’t even focused on the road; rather, they were more concerned with what someone in the chat was saying, which led to them crashing. Fortunately, they weren’t badly injured. Not only that, but I've also seen dash-cam videos of drivers so focused on texting that they sometimes don’t even have their hands on the steering wheel! Which of course led them to crash into trees or off the road with minimal damage to themselves, though with fear apparent in their eyes.

Furthermore, these people crashing because of their carelessness made me think of myself and the close calls I had because of the mistakes I made while tired. It made me realize that simply because I’m not driving and texting doesn’t mean I’m not driving impaired; I began to rethink what driving impaired is, since all my life I heard about not drinking and texting while driving, yet never about how one shouldn’t drive when fatigued. On the contrary, I was told that it doesn’t matter if I’m exhausted, drowsy, with heavy eyes, that I should push through since “that’s just how life is”. But now I don’t agree with that statement, I shouldn’t drive during the times I’m exhausted and putting other people's lives in danger, not solely my own. Even though it means I will practice less, it's better than putting everyone's life on the road in danger because of my careless decision. 

As such, there should be more topics on the effect that fatigue has on driving, not purely drinking and texting when driving. Plus, for even more impact on the attitudes involving impaired driving, we should have videos and interviews of people who either experienced a car crash themselves or experienced a loss of someone who has. It was what made me take the dangers of texting and driving more seriously. I still remember it from middle school; it was about the interviews of families who lost their loved ones to a car crash. Particularly, I remember one where it was a group of teenage girls who crashed due to texting and driving; sadly, a few did die, whilst others were badly injured. It made me realize how much of a danger even just doing a quick text on the phone is which is the kind of effect we should strive for if we want to change the attitudes the general public has on impaired driving, since only showing statistics isn’t enough; we should appeal to a person’s emotion and show the impact these kinds of decisions have on people. It will make some realize that it could happen to them or their loved ones. Plus, it will make them think twice when drinking, when someone texts them while driving, or when they wake up exhausted, barely able to open their eyes.

That is to say, I am also taking part in spreading the word of the big impact impaired driving has on not just oneself, but others on the road. I already started with my parents by explaining the negative impacts fatigue has on me driving, with examples provided, such as almost driving into the wrong lane and the times I felt my eyes closing the moment the stoplight turned red, and I had to wait. Eventually, they started to understand how bad fatigue can affect a person, as well as began to take their own fatigue more seriously! So, now they don’t try to pressure me into driving if I am feeling weary, and the same goes for them for the times that they’re feeling too tired.