It’s no secret that drinking and driving is dangerous, and yet, people continue to do it.
Even if you have a few drinks, it’s not worth the risk of getting behind the wheel and hurting yourself or someone else. If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a designated driver or take a cab. It’s not worth the risk.
Let’s look at the top consequences of drinking and driving so that you understand just how dangerous it is.
What Are the Dangers of Drinking and Driving?
Even though it’s legal, alcohol is still a drug. It slows down your reaction time, impairs your vision and motor skills, and makes it harder to think clearly. That’s why drinking and driving are such a dangerous combination.
When you get behind the wheel after drinking, you’re putting yourself and others at risk in a number of ways.
Drinking and Driving Can Cause an Accident
You could get into a car accident. This is the most obvious consequence of drinking and driving. If you’re drunk, your reflexes are slower, your judgment is impaired, and you’re more likely to make mistakes.
Even if you’re a good driver, you could still make a mistake that causes an accident. And if you’re in an accident, it’s more likely to be serious if you’re drunk because you’re less likely to be wearing a seatbelt and more likely to be going fast.
Even if you don’t drink often, getting a breathalyzer is a safe way to know if you can drive. Check out the best breathalyzers on here.
1. Someone Can Get Hurt
You could hurt yourself or someone else. Drinking and driving not only increases your risk of crashing, but it also increases your risk of injuring yourself or someone else in a crash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is a factor in about 30% of deadly crashes and serious injuries.
2. There Is a High Risk of Getting a DUI
You could get a DUI. If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face serious legal consequences.
You could get a DUI, which is a criminal offense. You’ll have to go to court, pay fines, and your insurance rates will go up. You could also lose your license for a period of time.
3. Drinking and Driving Can Cause Property Damage
You could cause property damage. If you’re in a car accident, you could damage your own vehicle or someone else’s. You could also damage other property, like a fence or mailbox.
4. Drinking and Driving Can Ruin Your Life
You could ruin your life. Drinking and driving can ruin your life in many ways. It can cost you your job, your family, and your freedom. If you’re convicted of a DUI, it will go on your permanent record.
That means that potential employers, landlords, and others could see it and judge you based on that one mistake.
5. You Could Lose Your Job
You could lose your job. If you’re convicted of a DUI, your employer could find out and decide to fire you. If you drive for a living, such as a truck driver or delivery driver, a DUI will likely end your career.
6. Your Family Could Suffer
Your family could suffer. Drinking and driving can put a strain on your relationships and cause problems in your family. If you’re arrested for a DUI, your family will have to deal with the shame and embarrassment as well as the financial consequences.
7. You Could Go to Jail
You could go to jail. A DUI conviction can result in jail time, especially if you hurt someone or damage property. Even if you don’t go to jail, you could end up on probation, which can be restrictive and expensive.
8. You Could Lose Your License
You could lose your license. A DUI conviction will result in a suspended or revoked license. That means you won’t be able to drive to work or school, run errands, or take care of your family. You could also end up with a permanent mark on your driving record.
9. Your Insurance Rates Will Go Up
Your insurance rates will go up. A DUI will cause your insurance rates to increase, sometimes by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. This can make it hard to afford car insurance, which is required in most states.
10. You Could Have a Permanent Criminal Record
You could have a permanent criminal record. A DUI is a crime, and it will go on your criminal record. This can make it hard to get a job, rent an apartment, or get insurance.
11. You Could Die
You could die. Drinking and driving is dangerous and can lead to deadly accidents. In 2016, 10,497 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, according to the CDC. That’s nearly 30 people every day.
Don’t drink and drive. It’s not worth the risk.
Why Do People Drive Drunk?
That’s a great question, but the main reason is due to being human. People make awful mistakes that they will never forgive themselves for. And that is why we need to be so careful.
It only takes one drink to impair your judgment and increase the risk of having a crash. And the more you drink, the greater the risk.
So if you’re going to drink, don’t drive. Arrange for a sober friend or family member to drive you home, or use a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft. And if you see someone who’s about to drive drunk, take their keys and call a cab or Uber for them.
It could save a life.
How Long After Drinking Can You Drive?
It depends on how much you’ve had to drink, but as a general rule, it’s best to wait at least an hour or two after your last drink before getting behind the wheel.
Your body metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about one standard drink per hour. So if you have two drinks, it will take two hours for the alcohol to be out of your system.
But keep in mind that alcohol affects people differently. Your weight, age, gender, and how much food you’ve eaten can all play a role in how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol.
So if you’re not sure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and wait a little longer. Or better yet, just don’t drink at all if you’re going to be driving.
Can I Drive After 3 Beers?
It depends on how much you weigh and how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol, but as a general rule, three beers in an hour is too much to drink if you’re going to be driving.
A 12-ounce can of beer has about the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor.
So if you’re a man who weighs 160 pounds, drinking three beers in an hour would put you over the legal limit of .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
For women, it would depend on how much they weigh. A 130-pound woman who drinks three beers in an hour would also be over the legal limit.
But again, everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and wait a little longer before driving if you’ve had three beers.
Is Drunk Driving Frowned Upon All Over The World?
Drunk driving is one of the most troubling automotive issues in many countries around the world. Laws pertaining to drunk driving differ from country to country, but just about every country around the world has one law or another prohibiting the practice.
No matter where in the world you live, driving while intoxicated is something you should just not do. Nonetheless, about 17000 Americans die every year as a result of impaired driving.
The main problem with driving drunk is that alcohol impairs your judgment. It basically slows your reaction time, and it impairs your ability to move your attention from one thing to the other.
This is obviously extremely dangerous when you must react to changing road conditions. You may have heard the sentence, “But I actually drive better after I’ve had a couple of beers.”
You may even have uttered these words yourself. Even if this were true, and it never is, it fails to take into account the other drivers on the road.
What are Personality Traits Of Drunk Drivers
A driver who is legally drunk might be able to control their own car better than other people. Nonetheless, that person’s reaction times and reflexes will be much slower than normal.
Therefore, if another driver or pedestrian has a problem that puts others on the road at risk, the intoxicated driver will have more difficulty avoiding the danger than someone sober.
Studies have shown that there are certain personality traits that are common among people who drive drunk. Many are introverts or suffer from anxiety, or depression, show a lack of self-control, and are unable to control their impulses.
There are many ways you can debate the dangers of drinking and driving. Remember, though, if you make a mistake or are unable to react in time to avoid danger because you are intoxicated.
Consequently, you will at least be partially responsible for the accident. The moral of the story is if you are going out drinking, leave your car at home.
Why You Shouldn’t Drink and Drive
Drinking and driving are dangerous and can have serious consequences. If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a designated driver or take a cab. It’s not worth the risk.
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