(Newswire.net — November 28, 2020) — Whether you call it buzzed driving, impaired driving, or drunk driving, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a dangerous and illegal activity. Even just a few alcoholic drinks can impair your decision making, slow your reaction time, and make you a danger to yourself and others on the road. There is never a good reason to drive after drinking or using drugs.
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in the United States. Roughly one-third of car accidents involve a drunk driver, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 30 lives are lost to drunk driving accidents every single day in the United States alone. What makes these statistics even more tragic is that most of these accidents could be entirely avoided if an impaired driver chose not to operate a motor vehicle.
But how exactly does drunk driving cause accidents? What is it about alcohol that makes someone so dangerous behind the wheel? To better understand this type of accident, we’re taking a closer look at how drunk driving causes accidents and how alcohol impairs your overall driving ability. We also look at alternatives to driving drunk that are simple, cheap, and could possibly even save a life.
HOW ALCOHOL IMPAIRS A DRIVER
Alcohol is a depressant that slows down and impairs the functioning of your brain. Even after just a few drinks, your critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills are affected. This is why, for many people, alcohol allows them to “open up” and relax in a social setting.
While this may be suitable during such occasions, drinking alcohol impairs your overall ability to operate a motor vehicle. Drinking and driving should never mix. Alcohol also impairs your muscle coordination and timing, slowing your reflexes and response time, which are both critical when driving a vehicle.
HOW DRUNK DRIVING CAUSES ACCIDENTS
While many of us were taught “defensive driving” when we were younger, the safest approach to driving is being aware of your surroundings. Awareness is critical in allowing you to respond, quickly, to other cars, traffic signals, and pedestrians who may act unpredictably. Alcohol inhibits your overall awareness and slows down your ability to think and make decisions. Drinking alcohol can also impair your physically from driving effectively, by blurring your eyesight and inhibiting your muscle coordination.
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF DRUNK DRIVING
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a dangerous crime. The ultimate cost of driving drunk is the potential for losing your life in an accident or injuring or killing another driver, their passengers, or pedestrians. No trip home is worth the possibility of harming yourself or someone else.
Depending on the state, the legal consequences of drunk driving vary. A DUI charge can range from a misdemeanor to a felony offense and the legal punishment can include fines, jail time, and losing your license. Even a first-time offender could face thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees.
COMMON TYPES OF DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS
Drunk drivers have slower response times and impaired critical thinking, which means they can be responsible for a wide range of auto accidents. The unpredictable nature of a drunk driver is, in part, what makes them so dangerous. However, there are certain types of accidents that are more common when drunk or impaired drivers happen to be involved.
1. Collisions
Collisions are the most common type of drunk driving accident. When driving a vehicle, even if it’s only twenty or thirty miles-per-hour, your reactions still need to be quick and immediate. With slowed response times and muscle coordination, a drunk driver is unable to react appropriately when driving and can often cause head-on or rear collisions.
2. Pedestrians
Any collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle has the potential for significant injuries. Drunk drivers, especially at night, may not see a pedestrian crossing the street or along a sidewalk. Additionally, those on bicycles, motorcycles, and motorized scooters may be at risk as the reaction time of a drunk driver is significantly longer.
3. Wrong-way Accidents
A drunk driver may be unable to read and interpret common traffic and road signs. They also may simply miss an important sign while focusing on something else. It’s common for drunk drivers to drive against traffic down a one-way street, which can be extremely dangerous and result in head-on collisions.
ALTERNATIVES TO IMPAIRED DRIVING
No matter the reason, there’s no good excuse for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Especially today, there are many alternatives to driving impaired—there’s simply no valid excuse to driving drunk. Here are a few simple alternatives to getting behind the wheel after you’ve consumed alcohol:
· Before going out, establish a non-drinking friend as the designated driver
· Call a taxi or ride-share service, such as Uber or Lyft
· Call a nearby friend or family member
· Make arrangements to stay overnight with a friend or at a nearby hotel (one night at any hotel is still cheaper than a DUI)
Additionally, if a friend is planning on driving drunk, you should take action. Help them make arrangements for finding a safe way home or even offer to pay for a taxi. While it might not seem like a big deal at the time, there’s no reason to risk the possible worst case scenario of driving impaired.
CONCLUSION – HOW DOES DRUNK DRIVING CAUSE ACCIDENTS?
You should never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking alcohol or using drugs of any type. It simply isn’t worth the risk. Alcohol impairs your judgment, critical thinking, and reaction time, making even a simple drive home hazardous. In addition to the legal consequences, you could injure (or even kill) yourself or another driver. There are many simple alternatives to drunk driving, and if you go out for an evening with drinks, have a plan on how you and your friends will all get home safely.
If you’re involved in a drunk driving accident, it’s important to reach out to an experienced personal injury and accident attorney who can help protect your rights and ensure that, if warranted, compensation is paid.