Drinking and driving is one of the most harmful activities you can participate in, simply due to the immediate danger it can cause you and others around you. Unfortunately, even with all the extremely negative consequences imposed by the law on drunk drivers, more and more innocent bystanders still get killed in drunk driving accidents. Even more surprising is the consistent number of deaths that occur due to drunk driving accidents. Many will blame these consistent numbers on the problem with the culture in America, while others will blame this on the overall ignorance towards drunk driving. In this article, we will be discussing the following:

• What drinking and driving is
• Warning signs of alcoholism
• The dangers of drinking and driving
• How blood alcohol content levels affect driving
• Who is most at risk of drunk driving

Understanding the dangers of drinking and driving will hopefully encourage you to think twice before hopping behind the wheel after a glass of wine or a stein of beer.

What Is Drinking and Driving?

Getting behind the wheel of any vehicle after you’ve consumed alcohol is a serious offense. It’s known as driving under the influence (DUI.) It refers to the act of knowingly and willing getting behind the wheel of a car and operating the vehicle with a BAC or blood alcohol level of at least .08 percent. However, in some cases, lesser amounts of alcohol can also lead to very dangerous situations. As such, it is important to remember the general rule that consuming any amount of alcohol can result in deadly situations and strict punishment.

The Dangers of Drinking and Driving

No matter the situation or the person, any amount of alcohol ingested can impact your driving ability. However, the effects that alcohol can cause can vary from person to person. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways drinking affects driving.

Slowed Reaction Time

While alcohol is in your system, one of the most common side effects of the intoxicant is delayed reaction times. Unfortunately, delaying your reaction times will only make it more probable that you’ll cause an accident. When alcohol is in your system, it takes much longer for your brain to process crucial information. This can make it nearly impossible for a drunk driver to successfully prevent accidents. This is why so many drunk drivers end up rear-ending someone who has stopped in front of them.

Lack of Coordination

It’s no secret that alcohol affects your motor skills in a major way. This is the reason why intoxicated individuals will stagger and have a hard time walking in a straight line. Without these crucial coordination skills, driving is nearly impossible. This is because driving a car requires fine motor skills, all of which make use of different body parts. It can be hard enough for an intoxicated person to walk, much less apply pressure on a gas pedal lightly while turning the steering wheel.

Reduced Concentration

Alcohol is a substance well-known for making it difficult to concentrate on tasks for long periods of time. Unfortunately, when driving, one must pay attention to many different factors to ensure they’re staying a safe distance away from other drivers and obstacles on the road. When someone drives when they’re under the influence, they’ll get distracted by friends, passing sights, or their phones. In every case, distracted driving leads to accidents—many of which end up being fatal for one or both of the parties involved.

Decreased Visual Acuity

Another way drinking affects driving is that it can negatively impact your vision. After consuming alcohol, many people experience blurred vision. Others may experience difficulty controlling their eye movement. People who are inebriated won’t be able to tell won’t be able to judge the distance between their car and others, tell where the road turns, or be able to avoid dangers on the road.

Inhibited Judgement

When under the effects of alcohol, a major symptom is decreased inhibitory thought processes. This simply means that alcohol can make many people a lot less reluctant to partake in an activity that could be deemed dangerous. When operating a vehicle, inhibitory responses play an important role in how you drive. When someone has decreased inhibitions behind the wheel, they are more likely to

• Speed
• Exhibit road rage
• Show no regard for the law
• Show no fear of getting into an accident
• Be uncaring about harming themselves of other drivers

Who Is Most at Risk of Drunk Driving?

The riskiest subsection of the population who are most at risk of drunk driving is those who struggle from an alcohol use disorder. An alcohol use disorder is most often defined by the individual consuming large amounts of alcohol within a short timeframe. This method of consumption puts them at risk of greater effects of alcohol, which is an extremely dangerous situation when factoring in the use of motor vehicles.

No matter your situation and outlook, alcoholism is a condition that can be treated through specialized treatment. If you feel that it’s time to seek help with your alcohol addiction, consider reaching out to a treatment provider. These places have trained professionals who can guide you through the process of withdrawal and recovery from your alcohol addiction.

We hope this article helped you understand the dangers of drinking and driving. In every case, it is important to remember that any amount of alcohol can severely impact your driving skills. This is why it is so important to ensure that you perform safe practices no matter what. One of these best practices includes using a designated driver when necessary. For instance, if you’re out partying and get very drunk—so much so that it’d be dangerous for you to drive—don’t drive home by yourself. Be smart and call a designated driver ahead of time. If you are looking for cheap SR22 insurance online, reach out to Serenity Group today! We have an amazing staff and excellent service to make this process much less stressful and time-consuming for you!