Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving
If you have to do something to make yourself okay to drive, you’re not okay to drive.
Despite the fact that it’s illegal to drive drunk, one person was killed every 39 minutes in a drunk driving crash on our nation’s roads in 2022. That's a total of 13,524 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in one year. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2022, there were 2,337 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07.
Be Responsible: Have a Plan
Your life and the lives of others on the road are at risk every time a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking. Here are a few tips to stay safe.
- Before drinking, choose a designated driver, or schedule a ride-sharing, ride-hailing or taxi service.
- If you are hosting a party where there’s alcohol, offer non-alcoholic drink options and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
- Always wear your seat belt — it's the best defense against drunk drivers.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, safely pull over and call law enforcement.
The Cost of Drinking and Driving
Drunk drivers face jail time when they're caught, and the financial impact is devastating. A DUI can set you back upwards of $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing, and more. And, drinking and driving can result in losing your driver’s license and your car — imagine trying to explain that to your friends, family and boss.
The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration
Alcohol consumption impairs your thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination — all vital to operating a vehicle safely. You begin to feel the effects of alcohol at a BAC under .08.
| Blood Alcohol Concentration | Predictable Effects on Driving |
|---|---|
| .02 | Decline in visual functions, decline in ability to perform 2 tasks at the same time |
| .05 | Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations |
| .08 | Concentration, short-term memory loss, speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception |
| .10 | Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately |
| .15 | Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing |
Buzzed Driving Affects More than Just You
In 2022, 282 children 14 and younger were killed in drunk-driving crashes.
That’s one in every four children who died in traffic crashes that year.
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