How does alcohol affect driving ability? This is an important question that requires a serious answer, as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) impacts countless lives each year. According to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, alcohol is responsible for approximately 29% of all fatalities on the road involving a vehicle. More than 10,000 individuals die each year as the result of car accidents where the driver's Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeds the legal limit of 0.08%. Out of these 10,000+ fatalities, 67% of the accidents involve a driver with a BAC over 0.15%.
In addition to these needless deaths each year, alcohol contributes to many more non-fatal accidents, some of which leave people with chronic pain and disability. If you or a loved one suffer an injury as the result of a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Contact the Weinstein Legal Team today and ask to speak with Justin Weinstein, an experienced car crash attorney in Florida. Mr. Weinstein will provide you with a free case evaluation, along with a professional estimate of how much your personal injury claim may be worth. Whether you are seeking benefits from the opposing party's insurance company or are looking for information regarding personal injury lawsuits, Mr. Weinstein is the attorney who will fight for you. Do not accept a settlement that is less than you deserve, and do not wait to act. Call Weinstein Legal now at 954-845-0505.
How Alcohol Impacts Safe Driving
"How does alcohol affect driving" is a common internet search that is likely to yield many results. If a drunk driver causes an accident and you sustain an injury as the result, it is natural that you will want to know why. Alcohol can affect mood, cognition, and physical performance in many different ways and it is a strong substance that can have a profound impact on many individuals.
Here are 4 ways that alcohol affects driving ability. Remember, the more alcohol a person consumes and the higher their BAC goes, the effects are likely to become more serious and pronounced.
Impaired Judgement
Alcohol can lower a person's inhibitions and subsequently lead to poor decision-making. While intoxicated, a person may behave in ways that they never would sober or may choose to do things that are entirely out of character. But why does this happen?
Alcohol slows down your brain, stopping it from processing information as it normally would. When this happens, it becomes more challenging to put together thoughts and to rationally judge consequences. Additionally, consuming alcohol increases the amount of norepinephrine in the brain, a strong neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine causes high levels of excitement, which can lead to impulsive decisions. At the same time, alcohol impacts the function of the brain's prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making and judgment. The result is that individuals may make poor choices, such as deciding to get behind the wheel of a car after too many drinks.
Poor Concentration
Another important factor to look at when asking how does alcohol affects driving ability is concentration. Since many adults drive several times a day, we may not recognize the amount of cognitive power that goes into maintaining a safe space on the roadway. In reality, driving takes quite a bit of brainpower and focus. You need to pay attention to other drivers, your own vehicle, passengers, the environment, and more.
However, alcohol negatively impacts concentration which can lead to danger on the road. Additionally, a high BAC can lead to disorganized thinking, confused thoughts, and the inability to notice warning signs such as a yellow traffic light or an animal running across the road. This increases the chance of an accident.
Decreased Comprehension
Again, many individuals don't consider all of the things we must comprehend as active and engaged drivers. However, there are many. We must take into account street signs, road signals, auditory alerts, and more. Then, our brains put together all of this different information and process it to decide our next action (such as braking or changing lanes). When a person cannot understand all of these external cues due to impaired comprehension, it can lead to dangerous behaviors or a lack in proper response time.
Lack of Coordination
It is likely that you have seen a drunk person stumble, or possibly fall, after consuming too much booze. You may notice that intoxicated individuals have a tendency to slur their words, drop things, and appear generally clumsy. This is because alcohol affects GABA, a neurotransmitter in the brain, essentially "turning off" some brain cells.
It becomes more challenging for the brain to communicate with the body as BAC rises, impairing coordination and causing a lack of balance. This can inhibit driving ability in many ways, increasing the risk of accidents.
Have You Been Injured by a Drunk Driver?
If you sustain an injury as the result of a drunk driver, contact Weinstein Legal today. You may have a valid personal injury case, entitling you to significant compensation. A personal injury settlement for drunk driving may cover your medical costs, lost wages, property damages, mental anguish, and more.
At the Weinstein Legal Team, Florida personal injury attorney and partner Justin Weinstein works with a variety of professionals that can help build your case. These professionals include medical testimony experts, private investigators and crash scene investigators, and more. Each member of the team at Weinstein Legal will begin working diligently to build your case on day one.
For your free case evaluation and to see what your personal injury claim for drunk driving may be worth, contact Weinstein Legal today.
