Title: Distracted, Impaired & Fatigued Driving
Type: Lesson
Most crashes aren’t caused by bad roads — they’re caused by bad decisions. Distractions, alcohol, drugs, and drowsiness all reduce reaction time and make defensive driving impossible.
Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind off driving is a distraction:
Visual: looking at your phone, GPS, passengers
Manual: eating, adjusting controls, reaching for objects
Cognitive: daydreaming, stress, or road rage
Texting while driving is especially dangerous — it involves all three.
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications can slow reflexes, reduce coordination, and impair judgment.
Legal drugs (like painkillers, allergy meds, or sedatives) can also impair driving
Always read warning labels — “Do not operate machinery” includes driving
A DUI conviction can result in job loss, license suspension, and legal fines — even for prescription drugs.
Drowsy driving is like drunk driving:
Slows reaction time
Impairs judgment
Causes micro-sleeps (falling asleep for a few seconds at a time)
Warning signs:
Drifting between lanes
Heavy eyelids
Missing your exit
Nodding off
If you’re too tired to drive, don’t drive. Pull over and rest.
Don’t use phones or apps while driving
Eat before you drive, not during
Get 7–9 hours of sleep before long shifts
Avoid driving after heavy meals, medications, or late nights
Speak up if you feel unfit to drive — your safety comes first
If your attention, judgment, or alertness are impaired — even slightly — you are not a defensive driver. Know your limits and speak up.
Click “Mark Complete” to continue to Lesson 5: Driving in Adverse Conditions, where you’ll learn how to handle rain, fog, ice, and low-visibility scenarios.