Alcohol and Driving December 4, 2009

It’s about control  Alcohol-induced impairment causes many motor vehicle deaths.  The basic rule for ALL safe driving is to keep your vehicle under control at all times.  Drivers who have consumed alcohol are not in complete control over themselves, and therefore cannot be in control of a vehicle.  They are a danger to themselves and others.

What Alcohol Does  Alcohol is not a stimulant. It is a depressant.  It immediately depresses the central nervous system. The feeling of stimulation is because some brain functions like judgement are impaired.  When alcohol enters the stomach, it does not have to be digested. It is absorbed through the walls of the stomach and the small intestine into the bloodstream which carries it throughout the body.

How does Alcohol affect us?  In the brain, alcohol first depresses the area of higher function – social skills, judgement, thinking.  Next it attacks the simple motor functions, reaction time and vision.  Next, balance, co-ordination and sensory perception are impaired.  Continued heavy drinking will eventually lead to stupor, coma and even, if continued steadily, death.

Impairment  The most important factors contributing to alcoholic impairment (“drunkeness”) are the amount of alcohol absorbed into the blood the amount of alcohol absorbed into the blood the amount of time allowed for the elimination of this alcohol. the amount of time allowed for the elimination of this alcohol.  The human body works hard to change alcohol into nourishment and/or to pass it out of the body, but this is slow to happen.  This rate is affected by such other factors as: body weight, body weight, the amount and type of food in the stomach the amount and type of food in the stomach the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. the type of alcoholic beverage consumed.

How the Body Handles Alcohol  The liver breaks down about 90% of the alcohol a person consumes into usable food. The lungs and kidneys eliminate most of the remainder.  These human body processes need time to remove alcohol from one's system.  In terms of usual alcoholic beverages, it takes more than an hour to eliminate each 340 ml beer, 40 ml drink or 80 ml glass of wine.

How the Body Handles Alcohol  Some people seem to be able to "hold their liquor" better than others, and this excuse is often used by those who do not want to believe that a few drinks can seriously impair driving ability.  Individuals can show differing effects from drinking the same amount of alcohol due to size, weight, fatigue, emotional condition, or a number of other reasons. However, they may be equally impaired.  When the alcohol starts to “wear off” or you “sober up”, you are still impaired! Your mind is comparing this lower feeling of impairment to your peak state of impairment.

Myths:  We’ve been told there are ways to quickly “sober up” -- black coffee, cold showers, taking a jog around the block.  These are myths. There is only one thing that can sober a person: time.

Drugs and/or Medication  While alcohol is the most common cause of driver impairment, there are other substances, such as illegal drugs or even prescribed medications that can create a safety hazard.  Many illegal drugs are extremely dangerous to use, especially when driving.  As well, some medications, either prescription or over-the-counter drugs, are can cause inattention and drowsiness. Take great care not to drive while taking these drugs.

Alcohol and the Law  Even if you are well below the.08 level of alcohol in the blood that is accepted as the legal level in law, you can still be impaired; and the courts recognize this.  Being caught at above.08 per cent blood alcohol in the bloodstream, in itself, is a criminal offense.  But you can be impaired on one drink and can be charged and convicted with less than.08 in your bloodstream if you show other symptoms of impairment.  The average blood alcohol content of convicted alcohol- involved drivers in Nova Scotia is.16 per cent -- twice the legal level!

Penalties in Nova Scotia  Penalties in Nova Scotia for driving while impaired are outlined below, and all fines and assessment fees must be paid by the driver.  The judge's decision and sentencing is based upon the specific facts of each case. Fines and jail terms are also affected by whether any deaths, bodily harm or dangerous driving resulted from the driver’s actions.

Less Than 0.08?  Currently, drivers who have a blood-alcohol level between 0.05 and the legal limit of 0.08 will have their license suspended for 24 hours.  In October, the legislature approved a change to the Motor Vehicle Act that puts tougher penalties in place for drivers whose blood-alcohol level is within this range. This will be enforced early in  Drivers who have that lower amount of alcohol in their systems — not enough to trigger a criminal offence — will have their licence suspended for a week for a first offence. A second offence within 10 years will bring a new 15-day suspension. Third and subsequent offences will come with 30-day suspensions.  People are also required to pay a licence reinstatement fee of $89.63.

Over 0.08? 1 st Offence:  a fine of $600 to $2000  revocation of driving privileges for one year from the date of conviction (not the date of being charged)  completion of an Addiction/Drug Dependency Services assessment program ($390, your cost)  licence reinstatement fee of $ (your cost)  you might also be required to be re-take any and all of your driver's tests, including written, road, and vision tests.

2 nd Offence: (within a 10-year period):  a fine of $600 to $2000  possible prison term of at least 14 days*  revocation of driving privileges for three years from the date of conviction (not the date of being charged)  completion of an Addiction/Drug Dependency Services assessment program ($390)  licence reinstatement fee ($106.80)  you must re-take your driver's tests: written, road, and vision tests.

3 rd Offence: (within a 10-year period):  a fine of $600 to $2000  prison term of at least 90 days*  revocation of driving privileges is indefinite (minimum of ten years) from the date of conviction (not the date you were charged)  completion of an Addiction/Drug Dependency Services assessment program ($390)  licence reinstatement fee ($106.80)  you must re-take your driver's tests: written, road, and vision tests.

4 th Offence: (within a 10-year period): (within a 10-year period):  permanent revocation in addition to all of the penalties provided under the Criminal Code of Canada