If you live along the Gulf Coast, you understand how tourism affects the local economy. When tourists come to the beaches near your home, they often drink alcohol, either on the beach or at the local bars. When anyone chooses to get in their car after drinking, they put you in danger.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving killed 10,511 people in 2018. As people drink, they lose the ability to focus on the road, putting other drivers at risk. And the more they drink, the greater the danger they become.
The effects of an increasing BAC
The NHTSA details how an increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can impact driving. According to them, the typical effects increase as follows:
- 02 BAC – Even with the first few sips, people start to lose the ability to multitask and focus their vision.
- 05 BAC – Drivers begin to lose their coordination, and their response time goes down.
- 08 BAC – At this point, drivers are legally too intoxicated to drive. They start to lose concentration and short-term memory.
- 10 BAC – Drivers typically start to swerve at this point. They also have trouble stopping correctly.
- 15 BAC – Once they reach this level, drivers lose concentration on their driving. All the earlier effects get worse as the BAC goes up.
Alcohol affects each person differently. Some drivers may feel stronger effects with even less alcohol. But as their BAC goes up, they can lose focus, driving in areas where they shouldn’t be or failing to follow the rules of the road.
When people choose to drink and drive, they can put you at risk of severe injury or death. Regardless of how safely you drive, alcohol can cause other drivers to put you in danger.