Name: Adrianne Cook
From: Fishers, Indiana
Votes: 33
To me, impaired driving mean driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving can be misunderstood because people think it means someone is driving with a disability. People tend to think that only have one drink doesn’t make you impaired. Even if you ingest one drink you are still considered an impaired driver. The most common types of impairment are being under the consumption of alcohol and texting while driving. Drinking while driving is one of the most common causes of death while behind a motor vehicle. Drinking affects your driving ability because your brains control over judgement, reaction time, and coordination are impaired. While under the influence your brain is unable to think clearly and make rational decisions. Texting while driving causes you to be distracted by taking your eyes off the road. When looking at your phone you have no idea what traffic is doing in front of you. Taking your eyes of the road causes you to miss sudden stops and other changes in traffic. I was aware of how bad the result of drinking and driving was, but I didn’t realize how bad until it resulted in a death in my community. In the beginning of March 2025, a well-known student, Mason Alexander, was killed in a car accident. Mason was a kind, caring individual who put everyone else first. He had worked hard to graduate from high school early and went on to play football at the University of Pittsburg. Mason planned on giving his first NIL check to his mother to show how much he appreciated her dedication to give him and his sister the best life. Mason and his friends were leaving a party and were on their way home. The driver was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. On their way home, the driver insisted on going fast and was weaving in and out of traffic. The car the Mason was in went to pass another car on a hilly two-way road. The driver lost control and crashed into a tree. There were four people in the car and only 3 exited that night. Before they could get Mason out of the car, the car caught on fire. Mason tragically lost his life that night due to a careless choice that the driver made. The driver made the choice to consume drugs and alcohol and then got behind the wheel. Choices like these are the reason why we lose so many people to drunk driving accidents. This event shaped my awareness because it made me see how this can happen to anyone. The effects of this can happen to people who have everything right going for them. It shows that your life can end within one night and one decision. This influences me because it reminds me to never step foot in the car with someone who may be under the influence. It shows me that I would rather call my mom and get in trouble than losing my life to a drunk driver. Even if I’m not sure if the driver has had alcohol, I should always be safe and not get in the car with them. Drivers’ education courses can help change attitudes by teaching people about the serious risks and consequences of driving under the influence. Traffic schools often include real life stores and facts about how alcohol and drugs affect reaction time and judgement. Increasing awareness and understanding can encourage safer choices and personal responsibilities. Courses can also offer strategies for avoiding impaired driving, like planning ahead for a safe ride home. These programs should aim to shift attitudes from risky behaviors to safe and more responsible driving habits. Drivers’ education and traffic schools can include interactive lessons and simulations that make the dangers feel more personal. They can also teach safe driving skills and decision-making strategies that drivers can apply while they are driving. I can play a role in preventing impaired driving by making smart choices. I can avoid driving if me or someone else has been drinking and our focus and reaction time is not what it should be. I should also speak up if a friend tries to drive impaired. Being a responsible role model and promoting safe driving can make a real difference in keeping everyone safe on the road. My knowledge can show others that I am aware about the dangers and effects of drinking while under the influence. By talking openly about the consequences and offering solutions I can help create a place where safe decisions become the norm. At the end of the day, educating myself and others is the best way to cut down on deaths and injuries caused by driving with someone under the influence.
