The Dangers of Drinking and Driving
Even though many people are told that drinking and driving could result in fatal consequences, many do not take precautions before drinking and end up behind a wheel. Driving after consuming alcohol is dangerous because it affects you physiologically and mentally. Alcohol affects you physiologically. A high blood alcohol content (BAC) affects your visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision, color recognition, muscle control, and night vision.
Alcohol affects you mentally. Alcohol is a depressant that can be considered a "mind-altering drug." After drinking, individuals often have a hard time processing information and thus anticipating risks on the road. Research has shown that even with a BAC level of just.045 the ability to make a decision is reduced by 15 percent. When intoxicated, it is common for drivers to express more uninhibited and aggressive behavior. With memory, concentration and emotional control affected, a driver is in a dangerous position.
A recent study tested the skill and reaction times of both a sober and drunk group of individuals. The experiment showed that the alcohol group made significant more errors while performing tasks and that they evidenced a longer reaction time. According to one of the testers, "Our findings indicate that the motor component of information processing recovers during declining BACS, but it appears that the cognitive effects of the drug linger well after motor performance is back to drug-free levels."
The tester went on to share an example where this would be deadly: if a driver saw a car ahead of him brake, but slammed on the accelerator instead of the brake (a cognitive failure). This test proved a crucial point: even if drivers wait a little bit after consuming alcohol before driving, they could still be just as dangerous on the road.
When your judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, vision and hearing and reaction time have all been affected negatively, the results can be lethal not only to yourself but to other drivers on the road. If you have been accused of drunk driving, you should seek legal help immediately. With drunk driving related injuries and death statistics still alarmingly high, you can expect the courts to take hard-hitting action against you, even if this is only your first offense. If you want to avoid harsh penalties such as hefty fines, jail time, probation, ignition interlock device installation, and other punishments, you need a qualified defense team on your side. When facing such serious charges, you don't want a substandard attorney representing your case.
Jason K.S. Porter, P.A. is a DUI defense lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida. His firm received an AV
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