How Alcohol Affects Your Mind, Your Body & Your Driving

Public campaigns against drinking and driving have done an excellent job of raising our awareness about the dangers of this behavior. Unfortunately, far too many people still don’t have a real understanding of how alcohol can affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. They may feel like they have a higher tolerance or know how to quickly sober up. They may think they are just a little buzzed or tipsy, but not too drunk to drive.

The truth is: No one is immune to the effects of alcohol. Getting behind the wheel after drinking is a dangerous and potentially deadly decision. At Spaulding Injury Law, we encourage you to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol and make smart decisions to keep yourself and others on the road safe.

What Is One Drink?

1. Beer: 12 ounces (5% alcohol content)
2. Malt liquor: 8 ounces (7% alcohol content)
3. Wine: 5 ounces (12% alcohol content)
4. Liquor: 1.5 ounces (80-proof or 40% alcohol content)

How Is Your Driving Affected?

Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain & the Body

Alcohol has significant effects on how you think and how your body functions. In addition to affecting your ability to drive, drinking can cause damage to vital organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas.

Brain

Alcohol severely impacts the areas of your brain that are responsible for judgement, making it difficult to react quickly.

Eyes

Alcohol and other drugs can cause blurred vision, trouble focusing, and double vision. Drivers who are under the influence also have problems judging distance, speed, and other vehicles’ movement. Alcohol can also impair a driver’s ability to distinguish colors on traffic signs and signals.

Body

Alcohol’s effects on the brain directly impact how the body is able to respond. Slowed response times affect a driver’s ability to brake, steer, and otherwise control the vehicle to avoid hazards. In addition, impaired drivers may experience drowsiness and be overall less alert.

Sober Up!

Despite what you make have heard, there is no trick to sobering up quickly.

Myths

1. Coffee
2. Fresh Air
3. Cold Showers
4. Eating

Fact

Time is the only way to sober up. It takes an hour or so for one regular drink to get through the circulatory system. The more drinks you have, the longer you need to wait before driving.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Statistics

20.5 Million

Americans age 16 or older reported driving under the influence of alcohol during a 12-month period

40%

Of fatal traffic crashes each year involve alcohol or drugs

10,000+

Fatalities each year involve a drunk driver

120 milliseconds

Decreased reaction time for a driver with a BAC of 0.08, the legal limit

12 feet

The additional distance a driver would travel at 70 mph before reacting to a hazard

2.69 times higher

Risk of a driver with a BAC of 0.08 getting into a crash vs. a sober driver

5 times higher

Risk of a driver with a BAC of 0.10 getting into a crash

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver in Georgia, call us now and speak with a nearby drunk driving accident lawyer serving Atlanta, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville and Savannah.

Sources:
https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/how-alcohol-impairs-your-ability-to-drive
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/alcoholanddrugs.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/impaired-driving-new/CDC-impaired-driving-fact-sheet-Georgia.pdf