Name: Megan Conyers
From: Salem, Wisconsin
Votes: 0
To me, impaired driving means getting behind the wheel when your ability to drive safely is reduced, no matter what causes it. Most people immediately think of drunk driving, but impairment can happen in many ways. It can come from alcohol or drugs, but also from being tired, distracted, or even emotionally upset. When your mind isn’t fully focused on the road, you’re putting yourself and others at risk.
I think impaired driving is misunderstood because people often believe it only applies to drinking. Even drivers who have taken driver’s education sometimes forget that distractions can be just as dangerous. A lot of young drivers tell themselves, “I’m only glancing at my phone,” or “I can handle it.” But it doesn’t take much, just one second of inattention, for a crash to happen. I used to think I was careful enough to manage small distractions, but I learned the hard way how wrong that mindset can be.
Not long ago, I had an experience that completely changed how I think about driving. I was on my way to school one morning, running a few minutes late. My phone buzzed, and without thinking, I looked down to check it. When I looked back up, traffic in front of me had stopped, and I had to slam on my brakes as hard as I could. My heart was pounding, and I was in shock. I came within just a few inches of rear-ending the car in front of me.
For a moment, I just sat there shaking, realizing how close I had come to causing an accident, maybe even hurting someone. I felt embarrassed, scared, and ashamed. I’ve always considered myself a cautious driver, but in that instant, I was just another distracted driver who could have caused something terrible. It made me realize that no text, no song, and no notification is worth someone’s life. Since that day, I’ve made it a strict rule to put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” every time I drive. I also remind my friends to do the same.
Distraction from phones is one of the biggest forms of impaired driving today. It’s so common that people don’t even think about it. We tend to think “impaired” only means being drunk or high, but fatigue and emotions can be just as dangerous. Being tired slows your reaction time and affects your judgment almost like alcohol does, yet people rarely take it seriously. I’ve realized that staying alert isn’t just about keeping your eyes open, it’s about being mentally prepared to handle whatever happens on the road.
That’s why driver’s education and traffic safety courses are so important. They do more than just teach the rules of the road, they help shape how we think about driving. When instructors share real-life stories or show what actually happens in crashes, it hits harder than just reading a list of facts. In my own driver’s ed class, we watched a video about texting and driving, and I thought, “That could never be me.” But after my own near-accident, I understood exactly what that video was trying to teach. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about realizing that every small decision behind the wheel matters.
I think these programs could be even more effective by helping young drivers build safe habits early on, like silencing phones before driving or planning ahead if they’re tired or upset. If more driver’s ed classes focused on real stories or crash simulations, students would better understand the human cost of unsafe choices. When you emotionally connect to the message, it truly changes your behavior.
As for me, I’ve learned that I can help prevent impaired driving by setting an example. I talk about my near-accident openly because I don’t want anyone else to go through that fear. I remind my friends that even if they think they’re being careful, all it takes is one second of distraction. If someone I know has been drinking or looks too tired to drive, I offer to help find a safer option.
In the future, I want to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, a career that requires precision, focus, and responsibility, the same qualities that make a safe driver. I’ll be working with patients who rely on me to be accurate and attentive. Taking responsibility behind the wheel connects directly to the kind of healthcare professional I want to be: someone who values safety, awareness, and care for others.
Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, and it doesn’t have to be. My near-accident taught me humility, awareness, and the importance of being fully present every time I drive. I’m thankful it wasn’t worse, and I’ll never take that for granted. If sharing my story can convince even one person to think twice before looking at their phone or driving tired, then that moment of fear will have meant something.
I think impaired driving is misunderstood because people often believe it only applies to drinking. Even drivers who have taken driver’s education sometimes forget that distractions can be just as dangerous. A lot of young drivers tell themselves, “I’m only glancing at my phone,” or “I can handle it.” But it doesn’t take much, just one second of inattention, for a crash to happen. I used to think I was careful enough to manage small distractions, but I learned the hard way how wrong that mindset can be.
Not long ago, I had an experience that completely changed how I think about driving. I was on my way to school one morning, running a few minutes late. My phone buzzed, and without thinking, I looked down to check it. When I looked back up, traffic in front of me had stopped, and I had to slam on my brakes as hard as I could. My heart was pounding, and I was in shock. I came within just a few inches of rear-ending the car in front of me.
For a moment, I just sat there shaking, realizing how close I had come to causing an accident, maybe even hurting someone. I felt embarrassed, scared, and ashamed. I’ve always considered myself a cautious driver, but in that instant, I was just another distracted driver who could have caused something terrible. It made me realize that no text, no song, and no notification is worth someone’s life. Since that day, I’ve made it a strict rule to put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” every time I drive. I also remind my friends to do the same.
Distraction from phones is one of the biggest forms of impaired driving today. It’s so common that people don’t even think about it. We tend to think “impaired” only means being drunk or high, but fatigue and emotions can be just as dangerous. Being tired slows your reaction time and affects your judgment almost like alcohol does, yet people rarely take it seriously. I’ve realized that staying alert isn’t just about keeping your eyes open, it’s about being mentally prepared to handle whatever happens on the road.
That’s why driver’s education and traffic safety courses are so important. They do more than just teach the rules of the road, they help shape how we think about driving. When instructors share real-life stories or show what actually happens in crashes, it hits harder than just reading a list of facts. In my own driver’s ed class, we watched a video about texting and driving, and I thought, “That could never be me.” But after my own near-accident, I understood exactly what that video was trying to teach. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about realizing that every small decision behind the wheel matters.
I think these programs could be even more effective by helping young drivers build safe habits early on, like silencing phones before driving or planning ahead if they’re tired or upset. If more driver’s ed classes focused on real stories or crash simulations, students would better understand the human cost of unsafe choices. When you emotionally connect to the message, it truly changes your behavior.
As for me, I’ve learned that I can help prevent impaired driving by setting an example. I talk about my near-accident openly because I don’t want anyone else to go through that fear. I remind my friends that even if they think they’re being careful, all it takes is one second of distraction. If someone I know has been drinking or looks too tired to drive, I offer to help find a safer option.
In the future, I want to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, a career that requires precision, focus, and responsibility, the same qualities that make a safe driver. I’ll be working with patients who rely on me to be accurate and attentive. Taking responsibility behind the wheel connects directly to the kind of healthcare professional I want to be: someone who values safety, awareness, and care for others.
Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, and it doesn’t have to be. My near-accident taught me humility, awareness, and the importance of being fully present every time I drive. I’m thankful it wasn’t worse, and I’ll never take that for granted. If sharing my story can convince even one person to think twice before looking at their phone or driving tired, then that moment of fear will have meant something.
