Name: Antonio Banuelas
From: Frisco, Texas
Votes: 0
Antonio Bañuelas
Scholarship Committee
September 8th,2025
Impaired driving is often discussed in statistics, news headlines, or safety ad campaigns, but for me it’s personal. I see it on my dad’s face, a 32 year firefighter that has seen more horrible things than people should be allowed. The impact of impaired driving has affected more than his work life, it’s messed with his mental health, his heart, and even the way he looks at us. Impaired driving is not only about the lives lost in crashes, but also the families and first responders who pick up the pieces.
My father has spent years responding to car wrecks. Too many of those calls are the result of someone glancing down at a phone, reaching for something in the car, or drinking and in seconds, lives are shattered. For my dad, it is not just another call. It is the face of a teenager who will never graduate. It’s the screams of parents he hears in his nightmares that wake him up in the middle of the night. It is the unbearable weight of knowing that these kids were my age, kids like me, who had futures just like mine. He has carried them, tried to save them, and some have died in his arms. He can’t just leave all of that at work. The memories follow him, creeping into his sleep, triggering flashbacks, and leaving scars that cannot be stitched up in any hospital.
My father has been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from his years of service. He goes to therapy to cope with the nightmares and the burden of loss he carries. I have seen him break down at the dinner table when a memory hit him too hard. I have seen him rage for no reason, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. It is heartbreaking to watch the strongest man I know wrestle with invisible wounds, all because other people don’t think it will happen to them. Impaired driving hurts everyone.
When I get behind the wheel, I hear my father’s voice in my head, and I know I could never put someone else’s family through that pain. I think about how many times kids my age have died because of a few seconds of carelessness, and I realize how fragile life really is. So what can be done to save lives?
Phones already have “Do Not Disturb While Driving” modes, but more should be done to make them automatic. Insurance companies could reward drivers who use apps that block notifications while driving. Car manufacturers could design systems require the phone be docked away from the driver to operate the vehicle. Social media platforms, which are often the reason people pick up their phones, could run awareness campaigns targeted at teens, reminding them that no post or message is worth risking a life.
Another idea I believe could make a difference is peer accountability. Young drivers often care more about what their friends think than what adults say. Encouraging teens to speak up when their friends are driving distracted can save lives. A culture where it is normal to say “put the phone down” could be as powerful as any law. I have already made that commitment myself: if I am in the passenger seat and my friend picks up their phone, I will say something. It might be uncomfortable, but it is nothing compared to losing someone forever.
Impaired driving has already taken too much. It has taken young lives, broken families, and weighed heavily on first responders like my dad. But it has also given me clarity. I know what is at stake, and I know how I want to live. For me, prevention starts with awareness, and awareness starts with listening to stories like my father’s. I will carry his lessons with me wherever I go, and I will honor them by making choices that keep myself, my passengers, and everyone else on the road safe. Impaired driving has already taken too much. It has taken young lives, broken families, and weighed heavily on first responders like my dad. But it has also given me clarity. I know what is at stake, and I know how I want to live. For me, prevention starts with awareness, and awareness starts with listening to stories like my father’s. I will carry his lessons with me wherever I go, and I will honor them by making choices that keep myself, my passengers, and everyone else on the road safe.
