Drunk driving, also known as driving under the influence (DUI), refers to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more. In general, such alcohol in the blood greatly impairs motor skills, reaction time, and cognition to the point that it is very risky to others and to oneself while on the road.

Countless lives are lost annually due to accidents from drunk driving. Since such fatalities are utterly preventable, this creates the need to increase awareness and prevention methods regarding drunk driving.

What Is Drunk Driving?

Drunk driving is defined as operating any motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Legally, impairment may be described as when a driver’s blood alcohol concentration reaches or exceeds 0.08 percent. However, impairment starts at much lower levels. Driving under the influence does not just apply to cars. Rather, this may refer to motorcycles, bicycles, and even golf carts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-(NHTSA), in 2022 alone, approximately 13,524 people, which means 32% of the total traffic fatalities, lost their lives in preventable drunk-driving crashes. Also, each year, over 1.5 million people are arrested for driving under the influence of something – which is simply DUI – related offenses.

But even though it is illegal to drive under the influence in all states, drunk driving still manages to account for a staggering amount of deaths – one every 39 minutes in 2022 alone.

How does alcohol affect driving ability?

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system by impairing the function of the brain. This delays reaction time, lowers muscle coordination, and promotes judgment errors that may be conducive to unsafe driving operations. This may include speeding or running a red light.

As the amount of alcohol absorbed into the bloodstream increases, so the concentration of alcohol in the blood affects both the brain and the body. As little as small amounts of alcohol can diminish these abilities.

Here’s how alcohol affects driving ability:

Reduced Reaction Time

Alcohol depresses the body’s response to stimuli. Drivers under the influence take longer to respond to sudden changes on the road, such as a pedestrian crossing or a car stopping abruptly.

Impaired Coordination

Alcohol affects motor skills, including those needed for steering, braking, and accelerating. Drunk drivers may have difficulty remaining in the designated lane, maintaining a consistent speed, or making smooth turns.

Decreased Judgment and Decision Making

Alcohol reduces inhibitions and promotes poor judgment such that drivers who have been drinking may drive too fast, act aggressively, or disregard traffic lights.

Blurred Vision and Distorted Perception

Excessive intake of alcohol causes a driver to view objects with blurred or double vision. It affects correct judgment of distances or keeping a clear view of obstacles.

Drowsiness and Fatigue

Alcohol consumption can also lead to drowsiness, which will increase the likelihood of one falling asleep while driving or being out of attention.

Concentration Impairment

Driving involves multitasking. Alcohol reduces one’s level of concentration. This makes a driver easily blinded by other factors or even fails to respond to key signals such as road signs or signals from other vehicles.

Effects of Alcohol on cognitive processes

Alcohol impairs cognitive processes, including the way the brain processes information for quick and proper decisions. This reduces reaction times, lowers focus, and decreases the ability to perceive road risks. A driver under the influence of alcohol is less likely to recognize traffic lights, pedestrians, or other dangerous situations, while his decision-making is seriously affected.

For example, in the event of something obstructing the road, a sober driver would react in an instant. In contrast, an impaired driver might show hesitation or misjudge the situation, leading to an accident. The more alcohol consumed, the higher the decline in cognition, therefore putting all other people on the road in danger.

Blood Alcohol Content

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol in an individual’s bloodstream. It is expressed in terms of grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood. A BAC of 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood significantly increases crash risk. 

Driving at this level – or above – is illegal in all US states apart from Utah, which has the minimum at a BAC of 0.05. Even a BAC between 0.01 and 0.07 g/dL can compromise driving ability and lead to fatal accidents.

To understand how alcohol affects your body over time, it’s helpful to know how long alcohol stays in your system and how it impacts overall functioning.

Drunk Driving Statistics

Driving under the influence of alcohol remains one of the leading public safety hazards in the United States. It accounts for thousands of lost lives every year and requires billions of dollars. The following are some critical indicators showing, in detail, the severity of drunk driving:

Most Vulnerable Age Group: The age bracket that tends to drive under the influence of alcohol is between 21 and 25 years. This group has the highest rates of drunk-driving crashes, sometimes because of inexperience and risky behaviors.

Repeat Offenders: Approximately one-third of all convicted drunk drivers face multiple charges.

Financial Costs: Alcohol-related crashes cost American taxpayers approximately $100 billion annually. These costs include medical expenses, property damage, lost productivity, and emergency response services.

Drunk Driving Laws in the United States

The laws against Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the United States are aimed at safeguarding the public by setting strict limits on the amount of alcohol one can have inside their system while operating a vehicle.

Legal Limit

In all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the legal limit for BAC is 0.08%. A driver whose BAC equals or exceeds that limit is legally impaired. This is known as a “per se” DUI law, meaning that no other proof of impairment is required other than driving with a BAC at or over that limit.

Some states have more limiting laws concerning BAC for specific groups. All states, for instance, have a reduced BAC of 0.02% for drivers below 21 years due to the zero-tolerance policies for underage drinking. Commercial drivers, too, like those operating trucks and buses, have to put up with more limiting laws since many states apply a BAC limit of 0.04%.

Implied Consent Laws

All states require “implied consent” from drivers if there is reasonable suspicion by an officer that intoxication has occurred. Refusal to submit to a BAC test can result in an automatic penalty: license suspension, fines, and vehicle impoundment included.

Consequences Of Driving Drunk

Driving under the influence of alcohol is considered a serious offense and carries various modes of punishment. This offense may significantly impact an offender’s life legally, financially, and personally. Apart from self-injury and injury to others, a DUI conviction can have relatively long-term impacts on the life of the offender.

Legal Consequences

The punishment for drunk driving varies due to the level of one’s BAC, previous offenses, and other surrounding circumstances of the incident. These usually include:

• License suspension and revocation.
• Significantly high fines and legal costs.
• Imprisonment, in particular for repeated offenses or those involving injury or fatality.
• Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) at the driver’s expense.

To better understand how law enforcement determines impairment, it’s helpful to learn about the process of field sobriety testing and its role in identifying drunk drivers.

A Financial Cost

DUI can cost over $10,000, factoring in the fines, increased insurance, lawyer’s fees, and other added costs such as DUI school or rehabilitation.

Personal Impact

The emotional burden of causing harm or loss of life can be immense. It includes the emotional burden of causing an accident, including violation of life. Furthermore, convicted drivers may lose their jobs, personal relationships, and a damaged reputation.

Drunk Driving Dangers

Drunk driving is very dangerous in that it impairs the ability of a driver to react on time, make sound judgments, and exercise control in driving a vehicle. Alcohol upsets coordination, reduces reaction time, and causes defects in vision so that one would find it hard to judge the distance and react accordingly to various road hazards.

As a result, drunk drivers have a higher possibility of being involved in an accident where a serious injury or fatality could occur. In addition to the risk the driver creates for themselves, drunk driving presents a danger to passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians as well. Therefore, it is considered a serious public safety concern.

Drunk Driving And Addiction Treatment

To many, multiple incidents of drunk driving are indicative of a greater problem: alcoholism. If a person continues to drive while intoxicated despite convictions or even arrests, this points to the fact that the problem is one of long-term dependency on alcohol.

If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol addiction, it is important that help is sought. A variety of inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs provide help and the necessary support for leading a life in recovery. Such facilities may offer counseling, medical supervision, and long-term strategies to avoid recidivism and maintain a healthy, sober living.

At Bridges Sober Apartments LA, we provide a supportive environment for men seeking control of their lives by overcoming addiction.