Impaired driving, in my own words, is when you do not give your full attention to your actions on the road for your safety and that of others. In driver's education, I was taught that operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a substance or condition is prohibited. I think we too often think of impaired driving as drinking and driving or using drugs while driving. Impaired driving could be as small as tuning the radio, checking the backseat for something, or changing the climate controls. When you put yourself in a situation where you can’t react to a 1 second condition, it is impaired driving. This may sound extreme, but if a deer jumped across the road, you may have only a second to react, or if a wrong-way driver swerves into your lane, you may only have a second to react. It is the driver's responsibility to keep themselves and their passengers safe, and therefore, they must be vigilant. 

Alcohol and drugs have a chemical effect on one's driving. It causes drowsiness, loss of coordination, and blurry vision. With technology now becoming a part of our daily lives texting, scrolling, and changing the radio have become other avenues for impaired driving. A trend I’m becoming worried about today is cars with literal iPads in them. The huge 12-inch screens with integrated climate controls and confusing gear shifters. My aunt has the Ford Mach-E Mustang. In order to change the climate controls, you have to navigate 3 home screens just to change the temperature, whereas in my 2013 Subaru it takes one dial turn. I believe that we will see an increase in technology related accidents and, sadly deaths due to this trend. 

In the Fall of 2022, I witnessed the horrors of impaired driving. That fall semester I took an EMT-B class with the Laramie Fire Department in Wyoming. The Fire Department was running probably 100 times the calls for car accidents compared to structure fires. I unfortunately got to see firsthand just how destructive impaired driving was on society. On one particular call that still haunts me to this day, we came to the scene of a head-on collision on Highway 287. A pickup truck had collided with a minivan when the van veered into the wrong lane, according to witnesses. The minivan had been completely crumpled up like discarded aluminum foil, and the truck’s bed had separated from the frame due to the force of the impact. Sadly, it was obvious that there would be no survivors as the passenger compartments of each vehicle had been compressed to the size of a small chair. We were helpless to do anything for the victims of the crash, no miracle now could save them. No remains were able to be verified without genetic testing, as there was hardly anything left. In the end, the investigation concluded that distracted driving was to blame for the accident. A tragedy that could have been avoided and still leaves a lasting impression on me and those who witnessed the event. 

Since then, I have been reminded to be vigilant on the road. To quote the Spider Man Movies, “With great power comes great responsibility”. When you are behind the wheel of a 4000-pound metal machine with the capability of wiping out not only your life but also others, you are morally obligated to be a safe driver. I myself will admit I’m not a perfect driver. I’m imperfect, as I can get distracted from changing the radio or talking to friends in the car, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do better. I have to do better, not just for myself but for those around me. 

Driver's education can help bring awareness to distracted driving, but in the real world, I believe that what we need is for people to lead by example. In today’s interconnected society, we often look to role models and influencers. Often, driver's education classes try to use scare tactics to get people to drive safely, but I think that the best tactic is to inspire. This can be done with celebrities possibly retaking driver's education courses and practicing safe driving. Leading by example and action is more powerful than any textbook. People want to be like their favorite rock stars and movie stars, so what better way than to have their favorite celebrities promote safe driving? 

For me personally, on an individual level, I can practice being a better and safer driver myself. As a student, I can do research into methods to help prevent impaired driving. Presenting research onto how  we can better understand the underlying causes of impaired driving on a societal level. I still believe that one of the greatest impacts I can have on those around me is leading by example. Showing others how easy it is to be a safe driver and the importance putting the phone down, so as to ensure the safety of not just me but the community.