Drinking and Driving

It is estimated that more than 10,000 young people in the United States are killed and 40,000 are injured in automobile accidents each year where alcohol is involved. 

Any amount of alcohol in your bloodstream can impact your driving ability.  This means putting yourself, and others, at serious risk for causing an accident or highway injury.  Getting behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle after consuming alcohol is extremely dangerous and always against the law.

Alcohol, no matter how much or how little, can influence your concentration. There are many things that require your undivided attention when driving. Your attention span is dramatically reduced with drinking, which significantly increases your chances for an accident or worse. When alcohol is in your system, it affects how quickly you’re able to respond to different situations. Alcohol slows your response time, which can increase the likelihood of an accident.

Your brain controls how you judge certain circumstances. When driving, your judgment skills play an important role in how you make decisions. Your judgment helps you stay alert and aware of surrounding conditions when driving. Alcohol consumption may also negatively impact your vision. Impaired vision can affect how you judge the distance between your car and other vehicles. Additionally, fewer objects may be visible in your peripheral vision. 

Drinking affects your motor skills like hand-eye coordination.  Telltale signs of reduced coordination include trouble walking, swaying, and slurred speech.