Hey Logan County! Drive Sober So You Don’t Get Pulled Over
Written By: Gavin Ruzicka, Community Health Intern
With the Holidays coming up impaired driving is an increased concern. That is why December is impaired driving awareness month. According to the National Safety Council, New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve are among the deadliest holidays for impaired driving.
Alcohol impairs brain function which affects physical reaction time, reasoning, and coordination, which are all important when operating a motor vehicle. A person’s alcohol level is determined by the weight of alcohol in a person’s blood or blood alcohol content (BAC). A person’s BAC is measured with a breathalyzer. In all 50 States, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or Higher. Below is a table of how your body is affected at different BAC levels.
Drunk driving. NHTSA. (n.d.). https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
When you drive impaired you not only are putting your life in danger but the lives of those around you along with possible damage to property and motor vehicles. Driving while drunk is referred to as driving while under the influence or a DUI. Charges for a DUI range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the damage caused. A DUI can also cause the suspension of your driver’s license, fines, and jail time. Sometimes states require offenders to have a breathalyzer installed on the car that they must blow into before the car starts.
The best way to be responsible while drinking is to not drive at all. Try to have a plan before you start drinking. Assign a designated driver or use a ride service such as Lyft or Uber. If someone you are with has been drinking, make sure that they do not drive by taking their keys and arranging a sober drive home. Lastly, no matter what, while in a motor vehicle ALWAYS wear your seat belt as it is the best defense in the case of an accident whether or not that accident was caused by an impaired driver.
To wrap up alcohol is not the only thing that can impair driving. Drugs such as marijuana or opioids can also impair driving. Fatigue and stress can also impair driving. If while driving, you feel drowsy make sure to take a break. Studies have shown that being awake for 18 hours without sleep is like driving with a BAC of 0.05%. If you feel off or in any way that you should be driving, pull over or have someone else drive. It’s not worth risking your life or the lives of others.
References:
Drunk driving. NHTSA. (n.d.). https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
Impaired or drunk driving. National Safety Council. (n.d.). https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/impaired-driving#:~:text=December%20is%20National%20Impaired%20Driving%20Prevention%20Month&text=Two%20of%20the%20most%20celebrated,National%20Impaired%20Driving%20Prevention%20Month.