“Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”
“Better to arrive sober and late than never.”
“Stay alive. Don’t drink and drive.”
“You booze, you cruise, you lose.”
What do these four quotes have in common? They are all anti drinking and driving slogans.
The war on drunk driving can be traced back to September 10, 1897 when the first drunk driving arrest was made. George Smith, a then 25-year-old London taxi driver was arrested for driving while under the influence after slamming his cab into a building. He pled guilty, and the fine he paid amounted to 25 shillings.
For 118 years, laws against operating a motorized vehicle while under the influence of alcohol have been in place around the world, according to the West Palm Beach injury attorney. Fast forward to 2015, and a staggering 4 million Americans admit to driving while intoxicated.
The Drunk Driving Epidemic
In the United State alone, roughly one-third of deaths by automobile accidents are the result of alcohol-impaired driving. The CDC reports that approximately 121 million episodes of drunk driving occur every year, and two-thirds of them involve binge drinkers.
What happens when alcohol is consumed? Let’s follow its path:
- When alcohol is ingested, it enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine.
- Once in the bloodstream, alcohol travels to the brain.
- Alcohol is a depressant, which means it has a slowing effect. Once in the brain, it causes the body’s functions to slow down.
How does alcohol affect a person? Drinking alcohol can rapidly result in intoxication or getting drunk. The amount of alcohol leading to intoxication varies person to person, but in general two or more alcoholic beverages can lead to a blood alcohol level over the legal driving limit.
What bodily functions does alcohol slow? Thanks to its path to the brain, alcohol slows your reaction time. It changes and diminishes your coordination. It impairs your vision, often causing a sensation of fuzzy, double, or triple vision. And it makes thinking clearing next to impossible, which can rapidly lead to bad decision making or doing things you would never do sober.
The Consequences of Driving Drunk
Drunk driving isn’t limited to getting behind the wheel while insanely drunk. Driving with a buzz falls into the same category. When you can feel the effects of the alcohol you have consumed, chances are your blood alcohol level is too high for safe driving.
Driving while intoxicated is laced with serious consequences. It can lead to unwanted and deadly accidents involving fists, falling, or a motor vehicle. Should the police be called or pull you over, legal ramifications will ensue. You could lose your driver’s license and find yourself facing expensive fines and/or jail.
DUIs and DWIs are serious legal consequences of drunk driving. To quote one more drinking and driving slogan:
“The problem with drinking and driving is… The MOURNING after.”
Avoid mourning over legal help fees, or even worse, death. Choose not to drive after drinking.
If you have a DUI or DWI charge and are required to take a DWI Assessment and classes, contact us today.