"I'm going to die. It's over. I'm going to die." 

    Those were the only words rushing through my head as I looked out the passenger side window at the empty stretch of road. I was behind the driver: not supposed to be seeing the world from that angle. As I curled into the fetal position, covering my neck for protection, I had no idea how much this moment would change me, not just as a passenger, but as a driver in my future.

    While I have always been excited to drive, I've also understood that driving can be dangerous- especially when it comes to impairment while on the road.  Impaired driving is when an outside source, mental or physical, is distracting you from being 100% focused on the road. People often misjudge impairment as coming from alcohol or drugs. However, the impairment category can be much broader: phones, music, passengers, stress, and the one that had the most impact on me personally, fatigue. Even experienced drivers, such as my grandma, sometimes misunderstand this. They assume that since they have already completed a drivers education course or have been driving for however long means that they know better. Impairment however, does not care how long you've had your license for. Impairment can affect anyone. 

   This understanding really resonated with me once I was enrolled in an over-the-summer drivers education course (as it was not provided by my school). While studying drivers ed, there was a whole section dedicated to impaired driving. It was called "Alive at 25."This part of the drivers ed course really opened my eyes to how common distractions can be. I learned that thousands of people lose their lives  because they are not fully alert when traveling. Distractions while driving are NOT to be taken lightly. Fatigue really stands out to me, and for good reason. Driving while tired is the worst possible way to spend your time. It's like walking on the edge of a cliff- one blink and be the difference between life and death.

    Last spring break I experienced this first hand when I was in a rollover accident because my grandma, who was the driver, fell asleep at the wheel,  putting all the lives in her car in jeopardy. In an instant everything changed. Miraculously I walked away only with a concussion, but my grandma suffered a sternal fracture which would take weeks to recover from.  I will never forget the feeling of adrenaline pulsing through my entire body as I stepped out of that vehicle. As I unbuckled my seatbelt, I couldn't help but feel shock and awe as I recalled what had just happened. What saved me was something that I had learned in the classroom: the importance of wearing your seatbelt any time you go for a drive. I was so grateful that I had taken the 3 seconds to click my seatbelt, otherwise I would not be here today. As I looked at the totaled car I promised myself that I would never drive while I was feeling any sort of tiredness or fatigue because I might not get as lucky next time. 

   The accident taught me more than just safety procedures, It changed my whole cognitive process.  I never understood why I hadn't spoken up when I knew my grandma might become tired on the long car ride. I had even offered to drive once but when nothing changed, I just went right back to being on my phone. Since then, I have learned how to use my voice and speak up- not just in cars, but in life! Safety cannot and is not passive. It requires strength, awareness and courage. 

   I credit these habits of mine to driver's education. Classes like the one I took can help young drivers like myself to understand real world risks. This course builds habits that focus on responsibility and thinking about things in the long run. When students can hear about real stories, like mine, and learn how impairment, along with other things, affects their driving, they become far more likely to make safe and smart choices themselves. These programs are effective because they can connect information with experience, which ultimately leads to turning rules into instincts. 

    As I look back on my experiences with driving, I have never once regretted taking a drivers education course.  As  you continue throughout your life there will be many times when taking a drivers education course will come in handy: changing tires, checking oil, accidents, etc. I firmly believe that it would be very beneficial to implement drivers ed into our society more including in ALL schooling systems. Driver's education doesn't just teach you about driving, it rescues you from the dangers that are bound to come while driving-especially while impaired. It doesn't just prepare you for practical procedures when operating a vehicle, it prepares you to face the unexpected and to make choices that could ultimately save lives. 

    My accident could have had a completely different outcome and I am so grateful that it didn't. In the moment with the training I had been through made me the informed, assertive, and determined person I am today. Overall, this is why I am committed to doing my part to overall reduce impaired driving. Thank you for you consideration.