Name: Josie Stroman
From: Gardner, KS
Votes: 0
When I think about impaired driving, I think about someone making a choice that puts themselves and others at risk. To me, it means driving when you are not fully able to pay attention or make safe decisions. Impairment is anything that gets in the way of a driver’s ability to stay focused, make good judgments, and react quickly. A lot of people only think of alcohol when they hear the word impaired, but it can mean many other things. It can mean driving while using drugs, texting, being extremely tired, or even being distracted by eating or talking to friends in the car. Sometimes people misunderstand it because they believe if they are not drunk, they are fine to drive, even though being tired, distracted by a phone, or under the influence of marijuana or prescription medication can be just as dangerous. Even drivers who have completed driver’s education or traffic school sometimes forget this when they are in a rush, overconfident, or think they can handle it just once. That false sense of control is what makes impaired driving so risky.
The most common types of impairment I notice or hear about today are texting while driving, fatigue, and alcohol. Texting is probably the one I see the most because almost everyone has a phone with them all the time. Looking at a phone, even for just a few seconds, means you are not looking at the road. It only takes a second for a car to stop suddenly or for someone to cross the street. Fatigue is also very common, especially for teenagers who stay up late or adults who work long hours. When you are tired, your body reacts slower, and sometimes your brain cannot focus the way it should. Studies have even shown that driving while very tired can be almost like driving drunk. Alcohol and drugs change how your brain and body respond, which can lead to swerving, speeding, missing traffic signs, or not stopping in time. Even if someone says they “only had a little,” that little amount can still slow reaction times and affect judgment. Each of these types of impairment takes away the focus and responsibility that driving requires, and together, they are some of the biggest causes of car crashes today.
I once heard a story about a teenager in my community who lost their life in a crash caused by a distracted driver. The driver had looked down at their phone for just a few seconds, but in that time they crossed into another lane and hit another car head-on. Hearing that story made me realize that it does not take much for something tragic to happen. Before that, I thought texting at a red light or glancing at a notification would not matter. But after learning what happened to someone around my age, I promised myself to keep my phone away while driving. That story shaped the way I think about responsibility because driving is not just about me. It is about everyone else on the road too—my friends, my family, and complete strangers. It showed me that when you are behind the wheel, you have to treat it seriously every single time.
Driver’s education and traffic school courses can make a real difference because they teach people what impairment looks like in real life. Instead of just hearing statistics, students watch videos, hear real stories, and sometimes even use simulators that let them experience what it feels like to drive impaired. These courses are effective when they do more than give rules and laws. What really changes attitudes is when people can connect what they are learning to emotions and consequences. If someone watches a video about a family who lost a loved one to impaired driving, it hits differently than just reading a number in a textbook. Driver’s education also teaches safe habits, like putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode or planning a safe ride home before going to a party. These little strategies can save lives, and teaching them early helps new drivers make them part of their routine.
In real-world situations, driver’s education works best when it feels personal. For example, if an instructor tells a story about their own life or someone they knew, it sticks with students longer. Another thing that makes these programs effective is repetition. When students are reminded again and again that impaired driving is preventable and dangerous, it builds a mindset where safety becomes natural. It is not enough to just hear it once—you need to practice it until it becomes second nature, like checking mirrors or using a turn signal.
Personally, I know I can play a role in preventing impaired driving by setting an example. Even as a young driver, my choices matter. If I refuse to text while driving or if I speak up when someone is thinking about driving after drinking, I am showing that safety comes first. I can also share what I learned in driver’s education with my friends and remind them that being safe is more important than being fast or convenient. Sometimes all it takes is one person in a group to say, “Let’s be smart,” and it changes what everyone does. I also want to influence my younger siblings and cousins when they start learning to drive. If they see me taking safety seriously, they will be more likely to do the same.
Impaired driving is preventable, but only if drivers take it seriously. With education, awareness, and responsibility, we can all help protect lives on the road. I believe that driver’s education and traffic school are powerful tools, but they only work if people remember the lessons long after the course is over. It is about creating a culture where safety is respected and where impaired driving is never seen as an option. For me, the responsibility starts now, and I hope the choices I make will inspire others to choose safety too.
