Impaired Driving is Selfish

When I reached the age of 16, my biggest fear was driving, but not because of having to drive a four-wheeled vehicle. My fear was the people I would be around while driving. My mom always says that she trusts me as a driver; it’s other drivers that she doesn’t trust. To me, impaired driving is when someone commits a selfish act of driving while under the influence, which puts others’ lives at risk. I think that impaired driving can be misunderstood because some may believe that if they are just a bit tipsy or didn’t smoke that much, then they are safe to drive, but in reality, any alcohol or drug consumed is enough not to be able to drive attentively. As alcohol, drugs, and other substances are the leading cause of impaired driving, lately I’ve noticed more texting and fatigued drivers causing accidents. Most people my age will text or send me TikToks while driving, and I am immediately disturbed. I always tell my friends that their lives matter more than answering their boyfriend or making a TikTok in the car. You are not at your full attention span the second you look away from the road, or just zone out. I have also heard several stories of people my age driving and falling asleep at the wheel. Driving while being fatigued is just as bad as driving under the influence. You should always be in your most attentive state of mind while driving. Driving under the influence impairs your ability to be attentive, and you start to drive as if you’ve never driven a car before. As I am only 17 years old, I have already lost two friends to car accidents. The first one was in 2019, directly in front of my house. My friend had been dropped off on the sidewalk a few blocks away from his house, and as he was walking towards his home, a drunk driver ran him over. The sounds of the sirens, the flashing lights, and the sights that I saw changed my perspective on life. I was so disgusted by the drunk driver, and all I could think of was how his selfish acts cost an innocent child his life. My friend wasn’t even in a car and had no chance at survival. My other friend died in the summer of 2024. As he was going around a roundabout, he was texting someone back on his phone and didn’t yield, and proceeded to get in a fatal wreck. Anytime my friends are texting and driving, I always stop responding and ask them to do the same. One text is not worth your life. After these incidents, I have vowed to be the safest driver possible and continue to encourage others to do the same. I was terrified of driving for a few years, but I eventually realized that the only thing I could do was try to be the safest driver on the road. I spent several hours practicing driving with my parents to be the safest driver possible. I also took a driving course and even a few online lessons about all the rules of the road. A way that I think traffic schools can emphasize the importance of not participating in impaired driving is by being honest. Don’t sugarcoat anything, and let students ask questions and get real-life answers. Do not be afraid to share stories, but also remind the students that the only thing they can do is be the safest driver. By being knowledgeable about impaired driving, you are able to tell when someone is driving unsafely. Always be attentive when driving, and encourage others to do the same. Put your phone down and leave it down the entire duration of your drive. You can never truly stop imperative driving, but you can spread awareness and ways to avoid it. If you do decide to be under the influence, always have a dedicated sober driver or call a taxi, but don’t put innocent lives at risk. Next time you’re behind the wheel, remember to be safe, knowing that not just your life, but the lives of others, are at risk. In conclusion, I hope that after reading this essay, you are inspired to be a safer driver and encourage others to do the same. Driving is a privilege and should be taken away if being abused. Your life is priceless, and so are the other lives around you, so drive safely not only for yourself but for everyone surrounding you.