Ben is a single father of five. He works three jobs to support his family. On an average day, Ben only gets roughly three hours of sleep. From 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., Ben works as a security guard. He then takes his children to school. After taking his children to school, Ben steals an hour of sleep before working his 9-5 at a warehouse. From 5:30 to 9pm, Ben spends time with his children, taking them to their extracurriculars, cooking and eating dinner with them, and putting them to bed. After Ben’s mother arrives to watch the children, Ben leaves to work his night job as a gas station attendant from 9:45pm - 2 o’clock in the morning. At the end of his shift, Ben immediately heads home to get some much needed sleep before repeating this routine. This has been Ben’s routine for over five years. He believed his body had adapted to his work and sleep schedule. Unfortunately this proved to be untrue. On his way home from his night job, Ben passed out at the wheel from exhaustion. He lost control of his vehicle and got into an accident with an oncoming vehicle. Both Ben and the other driver lost their lives. Ben’s children now must grow up without their only parent. The family of the other driver mourns the life of a 20 year old medical student. Ben was not a bad person. In fact by all measures he was a good man, working to provide for his family. Regardless of that, he was objectively impaired when he sat behind the wheel. Impaired driving doesn’t always present itself as drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. Oftentimes the impaired driver falls asleep from exhaustion, as in Ben’s case. 

In my eyes, “impaired driving” refers to any situation where a person’s ability to safely control a vehicle has been compromised by external factors such as substances, exhaustion, or mental distractions. Unfortunately, many drivers assume impairment only relates to alcohol or drugs. The failure to recognize less obvious forms of impairment like driving tired after a late-night study session or while emotionally distressed means some drivers continue to underestimate their own vulnerability.

Alcohol, even in modest quantities, slows reaction times, blurs judgment, and diminishes coordination, making it harder to judge distances or respond swiftly. Drug-related impairment can hinder concentration, cause drowsiness, or alter sensory perception. Texting or using apps while driving divides attention and dramatically increases the risk of collisions. Fatigue, often overlooked, is just as lethal. Research shows that exhausted drivers may respond to hazards as slowly as those under the influence of alcohol. 

In 2014 I was in a car accident with my mother. We were driving home from Costco. I was kicking the back of the passenger seat. She told me numerous times to stop. Then out of nowhere a white van hopped a curb and crashed into the rear passenger side door, my door, causing a loud bang to ring out. I immediately yelled, “It wasn’t me.” That accident was caused by a driver who wasn’t paying attention, missed his lane, and over-corrected. I believe he was tired. That accident was easily preventable and I thank God that it wasn’t worse. Now that I’m older and learning to drive myself, I always make sure I stay focused on the road, checking every box to drive safely and responsibly.

Ongoing education, even after initial licensing, ensures drivers remain up-to-date on new challenges and technologies, such as evolving laws around marijuana use or strategies for managing digital distractions. Critical to program success is the emphasis on personal responsibility and peer influence. For example, group activities where students practice refusing peer pressure or role-play intervention strategies allow students to feel empowered and confident to prevent impairment in themselves and others.

On an individual level, everyone can play a role in preventing impaired driving. Personally, I strive to be vigilant and honest about my fitness to drive. Through social media and community programs, young people have powerful platforms to encourage responsible choices and challenge the normalization of risky behaviors.

Knowledge gained from training and education is meant to be shared, not simply internalized. Even small interventions can make a significant difference: a reminder to rest before a long trip, a suggestion to carpool safely, or standing up against reckless behavior can potentially save lives.

By understanding the broad causes and effects of impairment, learning from real-world experiences, and actively promoting safe practices, we can significantly reduce the tragic consequences of impaired driving.