ALCOHOL & DRIVING

Driver Manual

Chapter 6

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL Overconfident Unable to think clearly Make more mistakes Even below the legal level of intoxication alcohol will

affect driving Driving Under the Influence (DUI) - senses and

judgment are impaired by alcohol 2-4 drinks impairs reaction time coordination & balance

Combination of anger & alcohol is responsible for much of reckless aggressive driving that fatal highway accidents

How Much is Too Much

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Breath test is used to calculate BAC BAC is determined by 4 factors

1. Amount consumed

2. Body weight

3. How fast it was consumed

4. Food eaten

The best way to reduce the chances of being involved in a drinking and driving accident is not to drink and drive

Myths about sobering up Eating Coffee Cold Shower

The only thing that makes a person sober is time

BAC LEVEL

Blood alcohol concentration – the percent of alcohol in a person’s blood

- in NJ, it is illegal to drive when the BAC is:

>21 yrs. old - .08 +

<21 yrs. old - .01-.08 + BAC level of:

.05 – doubles risk of crashing

.10 – 6x greater risk of crashing

.15 – 25x greater risk of crashing

LAWS & TESTSp. 103

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW* - agreement to give police permission to test for drug or alcohol use if arrested for suspicion of drugged or drinking & driving When you sign for your license you are giving

consent to test for drugs or alcohol Tests for intoxication

1. Chemical analysis of blood or urine2. Breath test – penalty for refusal (p. 103)

Penalties Refusal=driving with a BAC of .10% for first

offense Loss of license for 7 months- 1year Motor vehicle surcharge of 1,000 a 1yr for

3yrs Failure to pay fee will result in an indefinite

suspension until fee is paid

One Drink Equals

Its not about what you drink its about how many drink

Most people arrested for drinking and driving had been drinking beer

1 12oz beer=1 ½oz whiskey=1 5oz wine

Drinking and Driving Signs

Speeding: DUI driver often think their high speed driving is safe

Weaving: may have a difficult time stay straight in their lane

Slow driving: overly cautious Jerking motion: may have short mental lapses

and not keep a steady speed Quick stops: sudden stops rather then easing up

Good Hosts

If serving alcohol also provide non-alcohol Serve nutritious foods or snacks Never insist on guest drinking alcohol or refills Stop serving well before party ends Do not allow guest to drink and drive Suggest sleeping over or a nap Notify police if refusal Host may be involved in a lawsuit if a guest is

involved in a DUI collision leaving party

Designated Drivers

Driver responsible for SAFELY driving friends or family members who have been drinking home.

Drugs and Driving

Do not drive if:Prescription drugs or over the counter meds listing drowsiness or dizziness as a side effectDo not operate large machinery Example drugs: cold pills, cough med, or tranquilizers Never mix alcohol with medicine

If asked by police you must show proof of prescription or it will be considered illegal

Marijuana and Driving

2nd most drug found with drivers involved in a collision

Affects Loss of tracking ability Distance judgment: following too close Vigilance: Not attentive to driving following too

close or drifting Divided attention

Effect of Alcohol & Drugs on Driving

Perception Judgment Coordination Vision Mood

Healthy Driving

Health: any problems let some one else drive Vision: Most of what a motorist does is based

on what he/she sees Get eyes checked every 2yrs or over 40

every year Hearing do not have radio blasting or wear

head phones You need to hear horns and sirens