Virginia Department of Education Module Seven Driver Performance: Personal Factors

Having a driver’s license involves more than just knowing how to drive. It involves knowing and demonstrating responsible adult behaviors. Responsibility! What are 3 personal decisions you will face when becoming a driver?

Zero Tolerance Law: ????????Zero Tolerance Law: ???????? You use – You loseYou use – You lose Legal limit for 21 and over: ____%Legal limit for 21 and over: ____% Legal limit for under 21: _____%Legal limit for under 21: _____% Legal drinking age is 21…but when is it ok for an adult to drink and drive?Legal drinking age is 21…but when is it ok for an adult to drink and drive? Answer: NEVER.Answer: NEVER. Driving Impaired

BAC BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration It is the mathematical ratio of the percentage of alcohol in the blood stream 6 Factors affecting BAC???? Weight Gender Amount of Food Intake Time Spent Drinking Alcohol Content/Size of Drink Personal Factors: Mood, Medications, etc.

Weight Heavier people have more blood and other body fluids to dilute alcohol consumed Heavier people have more blood and other body fluids to dilute alcohol consumed A 210 lb person will have a lower level BAC than a person weighing 115 lbs who had the same amount of drinks. A 210 lb person will have a lower level BAC than a person weighing 115 lbs who had the same amount of drinks. BAC Factors Continued Gender Women process alcohol at a slower rate than males. Women process alcohol at a slower rate than males. This is because they usually weigh less, have less body fluid, and their liver has a harder time breaking down the alcohol This is because they usually weigh less, have less body fluid, and their liver has a harder time breaking down the alcohol

BAC Factors Continued Food Intake The amount of food in your body does very little to reduce the effect alcohol has on the brain and liver. The amount of food in your body does very little to reduce the effect alcohol has on the brain and liver. However, food does coat the lining of the stomach and slows absorption to the blood stream However, food does coat the lining of the stomach and slows absorption to the blood stream Time Spent Drinking 90% of the alcohol is oxidized (burned up) by the liver 90% of the alcohol is oxidized (burned up) by the liver 10% is eliminated by breath, urine, and sweat 10% is eliminated by breath, urine, and sweat Intoxication = Alcohol is toxic to the liver and brain Intoxication = Alcohol is toxic to the liver and brain

BAC Factors Continued Alcohol Content/Size Are all alcoholic beverages the same? Are all alcoholic beverages the same? % of Alcohol % of Alcohol Beer: 5 – 11% Beer: 5 – 11% Wine: 8 – 25 % Wine: 8 – 25 % Hard Liquor: 26 – 75% Hard Liquor: 26 – 75%

What do you think? 1.The human body removes one drink per hour Not for everyone! Average elimination rate is.015 % per hour Not for everyone! Average elimination rate is.015 % per hour Male weighing 150 lbs – ONE beer will produce a max. BAC of.027% Male weighing 150 lbs – ONE beer will produce a max. BAC of.027% (.027% -.015% =.012%) in 1 hour (.027% -.015% =.012%) in 1 hour 2. Coffee, a cold shower, exercise can help sober you up Not true. Only TIME will return sobriety. Not true. Only TIME will return sobriety. 3. Alcohol makes you feel better when you are depressed Alcohol is a depressant…it is a downer. Alcohol is a depressant…it is a downer. 4. Alcohol won’t affect my brain…and if it does it is only temporary 4. Alcohol won’t affect my brain…and if it does it is only temporary /watch?v=g2gVzVIBc_g /watch?v=g2gVzVIBc_g

Drug Factors Marijuana The active ingredient is ______. The active ingredient is ______. Impairs: Memory, perception (light, sounds, time, touch), motor-coordination, vision, concentration Impairs: Memory, perception (light, sounds, time, touch), motor-coordination, vision, concentration Using + Driving = DUI Using + Driving = DUI Over the Counter Drugs Antihistamines (Benadryl) Antihistamines (Benadryl) Cold Medications (Nyquil) Cold Medications (Nyquil) These medications make you drowsy and fatigued! You are not able to operate a vehicle while taking these medications. These medications make you drowsy and fatigued! You are not able to operate a vehicle while taking these medications.

Scenarios With a partner – you will write down your answers from 3 different scenarios. Be prepared to share!

Scenarios Scenario 1: Jane, 16, and Tom, 20, were coming home from a party at 1 a.m. Jane is the designated driver and Tom has had three drinks just before leaving the party. They have just taken Ken, 16, and Chris, 14, home. Both Ken and Chris had been drinking at the party. There are several empty beer cans on the floor on the back seat. Jane crosses the centerline and then comes back into her lane. She is pulled over by a policeman. What will be the consequences?

Zero Tolerance Law It is illegal for persons under 21 to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages. Anyone under 21 who drives with alcohol in his/her system will face license suspension or revocation for one to three years. Police will confiscate the license of a driver under the age of 21 Drivers under 21 still can be prosecuted for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) n A minor who is convicted of a drug or alcohol-related offense will suffer a one year license suspension, even if no driving was involved in the offense. DUI convictions now stay on a driver’s record

Scenarios Scenario 2: Mr. Smith (30 years old) was stopped late one Saturday night because he was weaving from side to side on the road. The officer administered several roadside sobriety tests, which lead him to believe Mr. Smith was legally intoxicated. The officer then informed Mr. Smith that he was going to give him a Breathalyzer test. Mr. Smith refused. What are the consequences of Mr. Smith’s refusal to submit to the Breathalyzer test?

Implied Consent Arrested 1 st refusal =License suspended 1 year 2 nd or more refusal = misdemeanor and suspension of 3 years Can be used against you in court

Scenarios Scenario 3 While under the influence of alcohol, John, age 18, causes bodily harm to a pedestrian. John had been drinking four hours before the accident. The pedestrian is severely injured and later dies in the hospital. What citation could be issued?

Vehicular Manslaughter 1-20 years in jail License revoked Criminal record Heavy fines

Fatigue Fatigue is: The body’s “downtime” The body’s “downtime” Follows a period of Follows a period of Extended mental activity Extended mental activity Extended physical activity Extended physical activity Characterized by: Reduced capability to work Reduced capability to work Reduced efficiency of brain function Reduced efficiency of brain function What can cause fatigue?? Extended physical activity Extended physical activity Stress Stress Lack of sleep Lack of sleep Body’s Natural Downtime is midnight – 6am and 1pm – 3pm Body’s Natural Downtime is midnight – 6am and 1pm – 3pm

Fatigue and Driving Avoid long drives Avoid resting head on head rest DO get plenty of fresh air DO change drivers if possible DO stop and walk around or take a break at a rest stop.

Aggressive Driving What factors cause aggressive driving? More cars on the road = more traffic More cars on the road = more traffic Construction = traffic Construction = traffic Stress Stress Three types of Aggressive Drivers: Type 1: Quiet Road Rage Complaining, rushing, competing with other cars Type 2: Verbal Road Rage Yelling, cussing, insulting, honking Type 3: Epic Road Rage Cutting off, chasing, blocking, fighting/threatening

Aggressive Driving What are other signs of an aggressive driver? What are other signs of an aggressive driver? Tailgating Tailgating Flashing lights/high beams Flashing lights/high beams Weaving through lanes Weaving through lanes Passing on shoulder Passing on shoulder Honking/Yelling Honking/Yelling Speeding Speeding How to handle an aggressive driver: How to handle an aggressive driver: Avoid retaliating (don’t honk back, give gestures, looks, etc) Avoid retaliating (don’t honk back, give gestures, looks, etc) Put your pride in the back seat…don’t take it personal! Put your pride in the back seat…don’t take it personal! You keep driving SAFELY. You keep driving SAFELY. – shows/videos/worst-case-scenario- aggressive-drivers.htm shows/videos/worst-case-scenario- aggressive-drivers.htm