Drinking Facts

Every time we go out on the streets, there is always a chance of getting into some kind of mishap. We could be careful drivers ourselves, but there might be a lunatic driving another car that forces us into an accident.

Some situations that lead to disaster on the roads are quite common, and repeatedly happen.

One frequent incident is when a driver falls asleep. Being too tired to drive at night in long stretches of road can actually lull you to sleep, and you end up waking in a hospital, bed, if you do wake up at all.

Racing cars on the streets is another usual scenario. Drivers are often guilty of speeding, for different reasons. Maybe some are in hurry to get somewhere. Others are just speed freaks and race with other cars to show who can go the fastest.

The Fact is…

Drunk driving is a significant statistic in road accidents. In Australia alone, the recorded incident  in 2007, indicated 1,616 persons killed in 1,466 road crashes.

29% of all drivers and motorcyclists killed on Victoria’s roads over the last year were 0.05 g/100ml or over the BAC legal limit . The majority of drivers were really drunk, registering more than three times over the legal limit.

While drinking and driving is totally 100% preventable, people still do it, and people do die. Over 40% of all traffic accidents are caused by drunk drivers. That statistic means that two in five vehicles that crash or are hit are driven by an intoxicated driver.

Many people believe that a couple of beers or some wine are fine to drive with compared to straight liquor. But, a “drink” is either one shot of liquor, a five-ounce glass of wine or one small (mid-strength) beer, all of which contain the same amount of alcohol.

Blood alcohol concentration or BAC is the proportion of alcohol to blood in the body, expressed as the percentage of alcohol in deciliters of blood–for example, 0.10 percent (i.e., 0.10 grams per deciliter). A 160-pound man will have a BAC of approximately 0.04 percent 1 hour after consuming two 12-ounce beers or two other standard drinks on an empty stomach. Research has documented that the risk of a motor vehicle crash increases as BAC increases.

Age. Cited as one of the most important variables related to crash risk, age affects the judgments of most drivers. Young drivers are inexperienced not only in driving but in drinking and combining the two activities often prove to be disastrous. Young people’s lack of driving experience, coupled with inability to handle their drink, renders them less likely than more experienced drivers to cope successfully with hazardous situations.

Gender. Research shows that women metabolize alcohol differently from men, causing women to reach higher BAC’s at the same doses. However, laboratory studies of alcohol impairment of driving skills among women are rare and the results are inconclusive.

Combining medications with alcohol. Combining certain medications with alcohol increases crash risk. Sedatives and tranquilizers alone can impair driving skills and can have a deleterious effect when combined with alcohol.

Alcohol tolerance. A driver who drives on familiar route under the influence of some alcohol may develop alcohol tolerance and can navigate this area without any mishaps. But given a an unexpected situation, such as a bicycle darting in front of the car in a blind corner, this same driver would be at the same risk for a crash as a driver with the same BAC  who is not familiar with the route.

Responsible driving is everyone’s concern.

There are many ways that you can help prevent road accidents:

Always use a seatbelt. The most basic protection is to wear a seatbelt. A properly worn safety belt keeps you from colliding with the windshield or being thrown off in case of car accidents.

Avoid driving after midnight especially on the weekends.  Most accidents happen after midnight, when people are at the peak of drowsiness.  The probability of more motorists out on a weekend’s night out is also something that increases the danger of being on the road.

Volunteer to be a designated driver. When you volunteer to drive, don’t drink. And if you do, then make sure you’ve measured your BAC level accurately to know if you are sober enough to drive.

Have a breathalyser always at hand.  You never know when you will be invited for a drink that you cannot refuse. When you unexpectedly take alcohol, then you need to know if you can drive your passengers and yourself home, or take the cab instead. It pays to be ready, always.

Take the keys away from someone who has been drinking, probably, more for his sake, and for those he will be coming across on the road. A driver who has been drinking, and is unaware of his BAC is always a risk. The best precaution is not to let him drive.

NEVER get into the car of a drunk driver. Save yourself from stubborn drivers too drunk to know right from wrong.

Drunken Driving-related accidents can be stopped if we all just take responsibility. Don’t drink and drive. Ever.