Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious problem that puts not only the driver but also other people on the road at risk. Many people believe that having just a few drinks won’t impair their ability to drive, but the truth is that even a small amount of alcohol can have a significant impact on your driving skills. According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. However, it’s important to note that even this small amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive. Studies have shown that even a small amount of alcohol can slow reaction times, impair judgment, and cause drowsiness.

This means that even if you’re only having a drink or two, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel. Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2015, alcohol was a factor in 28% of all traffic-related deaths. It’s important to remember that driving under the influence of alcohol is not only illegal, but it’s also extremely dangerous. Alcohol impairs your ability to drive in a number of ways. It slows reaction times, impairs judgment, blurs vision, causes drowsiness, alters perception, impairs coordination, causes confusion, and increases risk-taking behavior. It’s important to be aware of these impairments and understand how they can affect your driving.

With the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol being well known and well documented, it’s crucial that all drivers understand the risks and take steps to protect themselves and others on the road. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive, putting yourself and others at risk. It’s important to be aware of the ways in which alcohol can impair your ability to drive, such as slowing reaction times, impairing judgment, blurring vision, causing drowsiness, altering perception, impairing coordination, causing confusion, and increasing risk-taking behavior. In light of this, it’s essential that all drivers take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road. The following list provides 10 tips to help you stay safe on the road and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.

  1. Slows reaction time: Even a small amount of alcohol can slow down a person’s reaction time, making it harder to react quickly to changing traffic conditions. This can include things like braking, turning or avoiding hazards on the road. According to NHTSA, alcohol can affect the ability to react to emergency situations and cause the driver to misjudge gaps in traffic, speed, and the location of other vehicles. This means that even if you’ve had only one or two drinks, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  2. Impairs judgment: Moderate or slight alcohol consumption can impair judgment, causing a driver to make poor decisions, such as running a red light or weaving between lanes. Alcohol can also cause the driver to misjudge the distance between the car and other objects and make errors in judgment, such as driving too fast or too slow. Studies have shown that alcohol can also cause the driver to overestimate their own ability to drive and underestimate the risks involved. This means that even if you feel like you’re in control, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  3. Blurs vision: Both moderate and slight alcohol consumption can cause a driver’s vision to become blurry, making it harder to see other vehicles or obstacles on the road. Alcohol can also cause double vision, which can make it harder to see the road and make it difficult to judge distances. This means that even if you can see the road, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  4. Causes drowsiness: Alcohol consumption can cause drowsiness, making it difficult for a driver to stay alert and focused on the road. Alcohol can also cause the driver to feel fatigued, which can make it harder to stay alert and focused on the road. This means that even if you feel awake, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  5. Alters perception: Moderate or slight alcohol consumption can alter a person’s perception of speed and distance, making it harder to gauge the speed of oncoming traffic or the distance to other vehicles. Alcohol can also affect the driver’s perception of time, making it hard to judge how much time is passing. This means that even if you think you’re going the right speed, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  6. Impairs coordination: Both moderate and slight alcohol consumption can impair coordination, making it harder for a driver to control the vehicle and maintain proper posture. Alcohol can affect the driver’s ability to perform coordinated movements, such as steering, braking, and accelerating. This means that even if you think you’re driving normally, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  7. Causes confusion: Alcohol consumption can cause confusion, making it harder for a driver to understand traffic signs or follow directions. Alcohol can also affect the driver’s ability to process information and make decisions, which can lead to confusion on the road. This means that even if you think you know where you’re going, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  8. Increases risk-taking behavior: Impaired drivers are more likely to take risks, such as driving at high speeds or making sudden lane changes. Alcohol can also affect the driver’s ability to make sound judgments and decision, which can lead to reckless behavior on the road. This means that even if you think you’re driving safely, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  9. Causes memory loss: Moderate or slight alcohol consumption can cause memory loss, making it harder for a driver to remember the route they are taking or the traffic laws they need to follow. Alcohol can also affect the driver’s ability to remember important information, such as traffic signs, and make it harder to recall events that occurred before or during the time of driving. This means that even if you think you remember the way, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.
  10. Reduces ability to multitask: Moderate or slight alcohol consumption may have difficulty multitasking, such as keeping an eye on the road while adjusting the radio or using a navigation system. Alcohol can affect the driver’s ability to divide attention and perform multiple tasks at once, which can lead to distraction on the road. This means that even if you think you can multitask, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel.

In conclusion, it’s important to understand that even moderate or slight alcohol consumption can cause impairment while driving. The best way to stay safe on the road is to avoid drinking and driving altogether. However, if you do plan on drinking, it is crucial to plan ahead for a designated driver or alternate transportation. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’ve had only one or two drinks, you’re still putting yourself and others at risk when you get behind the wheel. Remember that any amount of alcohol in your bloodstream can impair your ability to drive, and impairments in reaction time, judgment, vision, drowsiness, perception, coordination, confusion, risk-taking behavior, memory loss and multitasking can be dangerous. By being aware of these impairments and understanding how they can affect your driving, you can make sure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to keep yourself and others safe on the road.