“I’m good to drive, I haven’t drank that much, I stopped drinking an hour ago, I have done this many times.” Usually these are the last words said by drivers in drinking and driving casualties. How many people do you know that have been killed or severely injured in any accident? That’s too many, and adding alcohol to the mix doesn’t help.
To put this into perspective since the time I wrote and posted this blog over 28 people will have died in drinking and driving accidents. Alcohol’s effects on the body are endless, but importantly alcohol’s effect on driving alone include things like slowed response time, distorted vision, impaired decision making, drowsiness, decreased coordination, and possibly even memory loss (blackouts). Not only are you putting your own life and the people in the car in danger, but every single person on the road that you pass you are putting THEIR life in danger, inescapably. Although it’s not illegal to drink and drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content) below 0.07, driving after having anything to drink can be dangerous and may have significant consequences. Over 69% of the survey pool admitted to driving after consuming alcohol, while 65% admitted to “feeling perfectly OK to drive.” Another 15% claimed to think three to four drinks was still acceptable. In reality a person’s ability to drive may become impaired after just one drink.
Even though there are many articles/posts like this one informing others on the aftermath of drinking and driving, people continue to get behind the steering wheels of cars while drunk. In the US, the leading cause of death for people under the age of 24 is motor vehicle accidents whether being a passenger or the driver. Over half of these fatals accidents were due to the careless of people consuming alcohol and thinking they were sober enough to operate a vehicle. In general, regardless of your/their tolerance, no one should drive after consuming alcohol.
Regardless of people being under the influence but also driving way too recklessly because they think they are invincible. Alcohol gives people adrenaline, the liquid courage they need to do something fun or maybe stupid. Don’t let that person become you or one of your friends.
Learn how to prevent it. Don’t let people under the influence including family members drink and drive. A lot of kids grow up in homes where their parents or older adults think it’s okay to have a few drinks then put their kids in the car to drive home. Teach them that you don’t do that, it’s wrong. Another easy way to prevent it is by simply downloading Uber or Lyft from the App Store of your mobile phone. These systems were put in place for a reason so use them. Don’t let this be the last drinking and driving article that you read.
– Shelby Salger
https://www.rehabspot.com/alcohol/effects-of-alcohol-abuse/drunk-driving/
https://www.alcohol.org/guides/drinking-and-driving-habits/
Ms. Harner's EN100 Blog 