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How Much is Too Much? Alcohol and Its Impact on California Drivers

Responsible drinking with friends can be a great way to relax and socialize, but if you plan to drive after throwing back a few cocktails, you should never get behind the wheel. The true tragedy of California alcohol-related accidents is that they are entirely preventable, as long as a few precautions are taken.

Understanding the effects that alcohol has on the user is a great first step to avoiding impaired driving.

BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) and Possible Effects on Driving

• .02% BAC: the ability to multitask is decreased and there is a decline in visual function
  

• .05% BAC: there is reduced coordination, difficulty steering, reduced ability to respond to emergency driving situations and difficulty in tracking moving objects with eyes
  

• .08% BAC: the ability to control one’s speed is severely decreased, there is impaired perception, short-term memory loss and a reduction in information processing capability
  

• .10% BAC: there is reduced ability to stay in one’s lane and the ability to brake appropriately is stifled
  

• .15% BAC: there is huge impairment to vehicle control, almost no attention given to driving tasks and a debilitating impact on visual and auditory information processing
  

There are Safe Decisions to Be Made When Drinking
The best choice you can make is to not drink and drive, even if you feel confident in your ability. Your judgment may be impaired.

If you plan on going out to an establishment to drink, then choosing someone as the designated driver, who will be sober, can make it a safe evening for everyone. If you are planning on drinking at someone’s house, you should check with the host to see if you can stay there for the evening.

Many communities run a safe ride program that offers free rides home from bars, as a way to discourage drunk driving. If your community does not offer such a program, just calling a taxi is a good bet. The cab fare is cheaper than getting a DUI or possibly harming yourself or others.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County or San Diego County, an experienced Southern California car accident attorney at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers may be able to help you.

Contact us today to obtain your free case evaluation by calling (800) 989-6385.

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