Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is a leading preventable cause of death in America. Learn more about the dangers of driving under the influence.

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The Dangers of Drunk Driving

Drinking and driving a vehicle is called driving under the influence (DUI). This involves operating a car or other motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent.

Driving after having even only a small amount of alcohol is dangerous for the driver, pedestrians, and other drivers on the road.

Understanding Drunk Driving

A DUI, or impaired driving, refers to ingesting alcohol before driving a vehicle. Vehicles are not restricted to cars. This also includes golf carts, boats, motorbikes, jet skis, and bicycles.

Every day, about 28 people die in drunk driving-related incidents in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

It is likewise predicted that 1.5 million people are arrested every year for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Impaired driving is a critical health and safety issue for the whole country.

It is illegal in all 50 American states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, to operate a vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher.

The BAC reading is the volume of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. If a person has a BAC at or above the legal limit, they are legally considered to be driving under the influence.

However, it is important to know that driving abilities and motor skills become impaired from as soon as the first sip of alcohol.

The Consequences of Drunk Driving

If a person drives under the influence of alcohol and survives an accident that injures or kills other people, she or he will need to live with the consequences.

That emotional burden may be worse than any physical harm.

But the physical dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol are also significant. Drunk driving can cause injuries that result in paralysis, disfigurement, brain damage, or even death.

Drunk driving is also a crime. Drunk drivers frequently pay sizable fines, lose their licenses, and face huge insurance costs.

Common punishments for a DUI conviction can include:

Driver’s license suspension/revocation
Imprisonment
Vehicle impoundment
Vehicle license confiscation
Ignition interlock device (IID) restrictions
Alcohol abuse evaluations
Mandatory alcohol abuse treatment programs
Monitored sobriety
Drunk Driving Dangers

Alcohol’s sedative effects can severely impact coordination and the individual’s decision-making abilities while driving.

Impaired coordination and compromised motor skills means that the driver is unable to react quickly and decisively to avoid an accident. Drunk drivers put themselves and everyone on the road in danger, greatly increasing the chance of accidents, injury, and death.

It’s not just the impaired coordination and compromised motor skills that make drunk driving so dangerous. Alcohol can also affect judgment and perception, making it difficult for the driver to accurately assess the situation on the road.

Even with slower reaction times, the driver may not be able to comprehend the dangers ahead and respond appropriately. This further increases the risk of accidents, injuries, and fatalities, highlighting the importance of avoiding alcohol before driving and finding alternative transportation.

Stop Drunk Driving by Treating Alcohol Addiction

Drunk driving is a common sign of alcohol use disorder. Continuing to drive under the influence, in spite of knowing its dangers, or having been arrested for a DUI before, or even having been in an accident, is a telltale sign of alcohol addiction.

If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol use disorder, help is available. With the right, specialized treatment at an inpatient alcohol rehab, recovery and sustained sobriety are possible.

Get in touch with us today, so that one of our skilled and compassionate treatment professionals can help you find the right alcohol rehab program.

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