Don’t you think we are talking about something very obvious? Yes, we are. If people had understood the seriousness of Driving while Intoxicated (DWI) laws, offenses and their consequences, there would have been no need for a discussion like this in the first place, no laws, no regulations and no enforcement wings and above all no accidents. Unfortunately no one has really understood the consequences of DWI offense and the far reaching impact it can create in the life of the drivers and others on road.
The question here is not about whether you should drink or not, but whether you can drive or not when you are drunk. A detailed research shows that alcohol abuse at any level indicated with the help of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level causes a person to lose control or impairs him/her of their ability to drive a vehicle, leading to accidents.
Legally Allowed Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Level
Under DWI laws and regulations a certain limit has been fixed by the authorities called the legally accepted BAC level, which is at .08. This has been widely accepted in all the fifty states in the country. The BAC level of a person depends on the number of drinks consumed by him. It is important to define the term ‘drink’ as it varies depending upon what you drink. A shot of liquor or five ounces of wine or one beer all of these contain same level of alcohol.
It is said that drivers measuring .08 alcohol levels are close to eleven times more prone to a vehicle mishap than others who do not consume alcohol. There may be a change in the level of impairment, but the fact is that impairment starts the moment they consume alcohol irrespective of gender.
Various BAC Levels And Their Implications
| S.No |
BAC Level |
Effects |
Legal Implications |
| 1 |
.02 |
Loss of judgment, impaired vision, inability to track moving objects, difficulty in performing simultaneous tasks. Visual signs are unnoticed, driving remains disturbed |
Nil |
| 2 |
.05 |
Loss of muscle control, reduced coordination with the vehicle, lower levels of alertness, inability to judge, difficulty in focusing their eyes quickly, reduced response during emergency. |
Except for physical impairment at its beginning level there is no legal implication. |
| 3 |
.08 – The Legal Limit |
Loss of self control, imbalance, talking and visual impairment, lack of reasoning, unclear memory, extremely poor muscle control and coordination. Inability to judge the speed of vehicle and reduced perception makes it impossible to drive safely. |
Crossing this limit, the driver is subject to conviction under DWI law, which results in suspension of driving license, heavy penalties and imprisonment or jail term. |
When Is It Safe To Drive?
Any amount of alcohol abuse leads a person to impairment in his physical and mental abilities. Hence the safest possible method is not to drive, no matter how much you drink. Severe consequences of DWI offense only signify the seriousness with which drunken driving incidents are being curbed to ensure public safety and safety of the person driving the vehicle. So, how safely do you drive? If you have any such experience which you find worthwhile sharing please do! |
