When are you considered impaired while driving?

Being considered impaired while driving refers to a condition where a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely is compromised. This can include a range of factors, but the key aspect is that the individual's overall capacity to drive is affected in some way.

When your ability is limited or hampered, this means that your physical or mental functions necessary for driving – such as reaction time, judgment, coordination, or focus – are reduced. This impairment can stem from various causes, including the influence of substances, fatigue, distractions, or even health conditions.

While feeling sleepy, being distracted, or having a cold might contribute to impairing your ability to drive safely, these factors are more specific subcategories of the overall concept of impairment. The correct answer encompasses all forms of inability to drive effectively, confirming that any condition leading to a limitation in driving skills is grounds for being considered impaired.