Name: Babatunji S Akinfolarin
From: Bowie, MD
Votes: 0
To me, impaired driving means being behind the wheel while anything—alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or distractions—prevents a person from being fully alert and in control. It’s not just about drinking and driving. It’s about any situation where someone’s judgment, reaction time, or focus is reduced. Many people misunderstand impaired driving because they think it only applies to being drunk. Even after completing driver’s education, some drivers underestimate how dangerous it is to drive when tired, emotional, or distracted by a phone. I believe this misunderstanding is one of the main reasons so many lives are lost on the road every year.
Today, the most common types of impairment come from alcohol, drugs, texting, and fatigue. Alcohol slows reaction time and blurs vision, while drugs—whether illegal or prescription—can make drivers overconfident or disoriented. Texting while driving is another growing danger. Looking down at a phone for just three seconds at highway speed means driving the length of a football field without seeing the road. Fatigue is also underestimated; being awake for 18 hours straight can make a driver’s reflexes as slow as someone who is legally drunk. All these types of impairment affect decision-making, making it easy for drivers to swerve, speed, or miss stop signs. What makes them especially dangerous is how normal they’ve become—many people don’t realize they’re taking a deadly risk.
I once heard a story that permanently changed how I view impaired driving. A close family friend lost his younger brother in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. The driver was a high school senior celebrating graduation. He thought he was “okay to drive” after drinking just a few beers, but his reaction time was off by a split second. He ran a red light and crashed into another car, killing my friend’s brother instantly. Hearing that story made me realize how one bad choice can destroy lives in seconds. It made me promise myself never to drive impaired or let anyone I know do the same. Now, whenever I get in a car, I think about how many people could be affected by just one careless decision.
Driver’s education and traffic safety courses play a major role in changing how people think about impaired driving. These courses don’t just teach the rules of the road—they help students understand real-life consequences. During driver’s ed, I learned that driving is a privilege, not a right. The simulations, crash videos, and safety lessons opened my eyes to how quickly things can go wrong. A good driver’s education program teaches more than technical skills; it builds habits of responsibility, awareness, and respect for life. When students see the emotional and physical effects of impaired driving through lessons and real stories, it becomes personal. That emotional impact can change behavior much more effectively than laws alone.
To make these programs more effective in the real world, they should include updated lessons on modern distractions like smartphones and in-car technology. Many young drivers don’t drink or do drugs, but they still text, take videos, or scroll while driving. New driver’s education courses should include more interactive lessons that show how these distractions affect reaction time and decision-making. Virtual reality or simulator-based exercises can help students see the dangers in a safe, controlled environment before they face them on the road.
Personally, I believe everyone has a role in preventing impaired driving. For me, that means being a responsible driver and setting an example for others. If I’m ever with friends who plan to drive after drinking or using drugs, I’ll speak up or offer another ride. As a future cybersecurity major, I also see how technology can help make roads safer. In the future, I’d like to explore ways technology—like AI-based driver monitoring systems or vehicle safety alerts—can prevent impaired driving before it happens. It’s another way to combine my passion for technology with my commitment to safety and saving lives.
Ultimately, being a safe driver means respecting the power and responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel. Driving isn’t just about getting from one place to another—it’s about protecting yourself and others every time you’re on the road. Impaired driving doesn’t only affect the driver; it affects families, friends, and entire communities. If more people took driver’s education seriously and understood the true risks, thousands of lives could be saved each year.
Every time I get in the driver’s seat, I remind myself that courage means doing the right thing even when it’s not convenient. Whether that means putting away my phone, waiting until I’m fully awake, or refusing to ride with someone who isn’t sober, I know that safety has to come first. That’s the lesson I’ve learned, and it’s one I’ll carry with me for life.
