Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
Chapter 7
Alcohol Facts
• Alcohol is the major factor in at least 50% of all traffic
deaths.
• Almost 20,000 are killed and 300,000 are injured every
year. (1 death every 30 minutes on Americas highways)
• Approximately 60% of all alcohol related deaths involve
ages 16-24.
• 10pm-3am on Friday and Saturday at least 1 of every
10 drivers are legally drunk.
• One common effect of alcohol is a feeling of well being
called euphoria. Some people think they are more
skilled when in reality alcohol is a depressant and slows
down the body’s functions.
Alcohol’s effects on Mental and
Physical Abilities
• Alcohol is not digested but absorbed into the
bloodstream where it quickly (within minutes)
reaches the brain.
After one drink…..
1. Affect judgment, reasoning, and
concentration
2. Reduce coordination
3. Distort depth perception
4. Alter moods & emotions
IPDE Process is impaired when
reasoning and judgment are reduced
• Stares in one direction & fails to keep eyes
moving
• Slow to interpret what you see
• Errors in predicting space, speed, and times
which results in making poor decisions
Parts of the Brain…what’s affected?
1.
2.
3.
Cerebrum- Judgment
Cerebellum- Physical Skills
Brain Stem- Emotions
BAC
.01%-.04%
.05%-.07%
.08% or higher
CONDITION
Affected (still considered sober)
Impaired (reaction and judgment
affected)
Intoxicated (hearing, speech, vision,
balance affected)
Typical Drinking/Driving Problems
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Driving too fast for conditions
Driving too close to curb or crossing center line
Not stopping for or running traffic signs/lights
Approaching stop signs too fast & making jerky
stops
• Driving at night without lights
• Not dimming lights when meeting oncoming
traffic
Factors which influence how Alcohol
affects people…..
A. Amount of alcohol consumed
1. Number of drinks
2. amount of alcohol in each drink
a. can of beer-5%
b. wine cooler-12%
c. shot of whiskey-40%
B. The amount of time which the alcohol is
consumed
C. The persons body weight
D. Amount of food in the stomach
Controlling Intake and Impairment of
Alcohol
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Set unwanted drink down “JUST SAY NO”
Drink water or a pop instead of alcohol
Set limit in advance and stick to it
Space your drinks at least 1 hour apart
Sip drink slowly
Avoid drinks with high concentration of
alcohol
Reducing Drinking/Driving Risks
•
•
•
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Don’t Drink and Drive
Give keys to a friend before you start to drink
Call a friend, taxi, or parent for ride
Appoint a designated driver
“Friends don’t let friends drive drunk!”
Refuse to ride with others who have been
drinking
Alcohol Myths
• Myth: Drinking black coffee, taking a cold
shower, or exercising can make a drunk person
sober.
• Fact: These activities do not reduce BAC. (Only
time can)
• Myth: One drink won’t hurt
• Fact: Taking one drink can make it easier to
take a second or third drink
Alcohol Myths
• Myth: Beer will not make me drunk
• Fact: One 12 oz can of beer contains as much alcohol as an
average cocktail
• Myth: Driving is easier after a few drinks
• Fact: Consuming alcohol diminishes your driving abilities
• Myth: Young people can’t become problem drinkers
• Fact: Young people can become problem drinkers even as
teenagers. There is no age limit to becoming an alcoholic
Drugs
• Any substance that changes the way the body
works
Over-the-Counter and Prescription
Drugs
• Read labels before taking medication
• Side effects of drugs include drowsiness,
dizziness, slowed reaction time, and poor
judgment
• Combining drugs might produce exaggerated
effects
Depressants
• Slow down the CNS
• Used to relieve tension, anxiety, high blood
pressure, allergies, and colds.
• Examples: sleeping pills, tranquilizers,
antihistamines, codeine, morphine, heroin
Effects on driving
• Driver can become very relaxed and reflex
reactions are slowed and coordination
becomes clumsy
Stimulants
• Speed up CNS
• Give the user a feeling of energy and alertness
and can prevent sleep. After a while the person
becomes nervous and irritable
• Examples: nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, crack,
crystal meth.
Effects on driving
• A false sense of alertness and self-confidence
• Increased risk taking actions
Hallucinogens
• Alter a person’s thinking, awareness, perception,
and vision. User becomes distracted
• Examples: Marijuana (commonly laced w/
hallucinogen), LSD, & PCP
Effects on driving
• Direction, distance, and time are distorted. Users
are easily confused and unable to concentrate or
think clearly.
Traffic Laws Governing Alcohol and
Drug Use
• Implied Consent Law- by obtaining a license
you automatically consent to be tested for
alcohol & other drugs if arrested on suspicion
of D.U.I.
Traffic Laws Governing Alcohol and
Drug Use
• If you are stopped by an officer (may be for a
variety of reasons) stay in your vehicle, keep
your hands on the steering wheel and follow
the officers instructions.
• He will ask you for your license and insurance
card
Tests for Intoxication
• Field Sobriety Test
– Horizontal gaze nystagmus test-Measures the involuntary
jerking of the eyes as the person gazes side to side. As a
person’s BAC increases the jerking begins at an earlier stage
– Divided-attention impairment test- a test which measures both
mental and physical impairment
*If you fail either of these tests you will be placed under arrest and
taken to the police station where you will be asked to take a
chemical test. If you are under 18 your parents will be called.
– Chemical Tests analyze the blood, urine, or breath to determine
blood alcohol content
Drivers Over 21
• Driving with BAC of .08 percent or more
and/or any impairing drug in your system,
your driving privileges will be suspended for 6
months. One year if you refuse to testing.
• 2nd offender w/in 5 years license suspended 1
year if you fail test or 3 years if you if you
refuse to test
DUI Conviction Over 21
• 1st conviction-minimum one-year revocation
• 2nd conviction within 20 years-minimum 5
year revocation
• 3rd conviction-minimum 10 year revocation
• 4th conviction- lifetime revocation
Drivers Under 21
• If convicted of DUI, you face the revocation of
your driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years
(first conviction)
• The Zero Tolerance Law states that it is illegal for
anyone under the age of 21 to drive a car with
any measurable amount of alcohol in the blood.
 Drivers license suspended for 3 months
 Refuse to submit to testing license suspended for
6 months
Drivers Under 21
• Second offense suspended for 1 year if you fail test, 2
years if you refuse to test
• Any person under age 21 who is convicted of illegal
consumption, purchase, possession or receiving
alcohol as a gift will lose his/her driving privileges for a
minimum of 6 months regardless of whether or not
they are operating a motor vehicle at the time of the
offense. Any person who receives court supervision for
any of these offenses will lose his/her driving privileges
for 3 months.
Following DUI Conviction
• Reduced driving privilege
– Judicial Permit allows driving only during certain
time & along specific route
– Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID)driver must take BAC to start car or do frequent
“rolling tests” while car is moving
Increased Costs
• Lawyer fees $3,000+
• Possible fees minimum $1,000
• High risk insurance $2,000 year (if you can get
it)
• Reinstatement fee ($250-$500)
• When all said and done usually $10,000+
Organizations
• Many organizations have been formed to
influence people about the harmful effects of
drugs as well as the problem of drinking and
driving.
• MADD-mothers against drunk driving
• SADD-students against destructive decisions
Peer pressure
• Negative
• Positive