Bell Ringer How does alcohol affect your ability to drive? What is meant by blood alcohol concentration?

Chapter 6 Drinking, Drugs and Driving Driver’s Education Chapter 6 Drinking, Drugs and Driving

Learning Objectives Explain how alcohol affects mental and physical abilities needed for driving. Define Blood alcohol concentration Explain factors that affect blood alcohol concentration List 5 myths and truths about the use of alcohol

Effects of Alcohol on Driving Safety Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in our society today. By far the most frequently used drug in fatally injured drivers. All states now enforce a minimum driving age is 21, laws against underage drinking are more strictly and more vigorously enforced now than ever.

Alcohol Facts Alcohol – is the commonly used term for the chemical substance ethanol, grain alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. Alcohol is the product of the fermentation of fruits, grains, and other plants. Alcohol is classified as a drug because of the effects on the CNS.

Alcohol Facts Younger people who drink and drive are involved in twice as many fatal crashes as people over 21. Drivers aged 16-20 are more likely to be alcohol-impaired than any other group. Nearly half of those killed in alcohol-related collisions had not been drinking, but were victims of drunk drivers. More than half of all fatalities during holidays are alcohol-related.

How Alcohol Affects Behaviors ONE DRINK = 12 OZ. BEER/4OZ. WINE/1OZ. 80 PROOF LIQUOR Just one drink can affect a person’s behavior, both mentally, and physically. The same amount of alcohol does not affect people the same way. The best way to avoid changes in behavior is to abstain from drinking. APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE Drinks Body Weight in Pounds 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 1 .04 .03 .02 2 .08 .06 .05 3 .11 .09 .07 4 .15 .12 5 .19 .16 .13 6 .23 .14 .10 7 .26 .22 8 .30 .25 .21 .17 9 .34 .28 .24 10 .38 .31 .27

Mental Abilities and Alcohol Alcohol is absorbed directly and quickly into the bloodstream through the walls and linings of the digestive tract. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it quickly flows to the brain. Judgment and Reason – the two most critical skills needed by a driver, become impaired. Physical abilities become impaired soon afterward.

Judgment and Reason A driver affected by alcohol has a decreased ability to reason clearly and make sound judgments. The driver may actually feel that their thinking and judgment abilities are sharper, quicker, and more accurate. However, alcohol puts sound judgment on hold.

Judgment and Reason Euphoria – false feeling of well-being. Because alcohol distorts vision, visual search patterns can be effected. Alcohol weakens a person inhibitions, the inner forces that restrain or hold back one’s impulsive behavior. Examples: driving to fast or taking needless risks.

Physical Abilities Alcohol effects the area of the brain that controls muscular movement, reflexes, and balance. Impaired drivers may take more time to process dangerous situations when driving. Alcohol slows reflexes and reaction time, muscular coordination becomes slow and clumsy.

Seeing and Speaking Abilities Impairment occurs in visual acuity, peripheral vision, night vision, color vision, and depth perception. The reaction of the pupil is impaired, so when approached by bright lights, the pupil does not become small rapidly. This cause you to temporarily blind. You will also see multiple images. Alcohol can also effect speech. Speech may become slurred and fuzzy, it may also fail to convey meaning.

Other Physical Problems Death can occur if a large amount of alcohol is consumed over a short period of time. Long-term effect – drinking can lead to alcoholism, which is an addiction to alcohol.

The Effects of Alcohol Driving under the influence means: your senses and judgment are impaired by alcohol After two, three or four drinks Reaction time Coordination Balance The only thing that can sober you up is time

Alcohol in the Body Blood Alcohol Concentration(BAC) – the amount of alcohol in the blood. Each drink you have adds about .02 to .03 % to the persons BAC. In New Jersey it is illegal for a motorist 21 and older with a BAC of .08 or higher to drive. For motorist younger than 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .01 or higher.

Factors Affecting BAC Amount of alcohol consumed – the more a person drinks, the higher the BAC. Amount of time over which the alcohol is consumed – BAC rises if only short periods of time elapse between drinks. Person’s body weight – a heavier person may be affected less by the same amount of alcohol as a smaller person. To a lesser degree, some types of food in the stomach my slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed.

Control Drinking Responsible people can limit their drinking by taking the following actions. Get involved in other activities. Put a limit on how many drinks you are going to have and stick to it. Avoid drinks with high alcohol concentration. Drink slowly, try not to have more then one drink per hour. Be aware of your physical and mental behaviors.

Controlling Impairment Alcohol continues to circulate throughout the body until it is oxidized and removed by the liver. The body rids itself of alcohol at a rate of one drink every ¾ of an hour. Only time can reduce the person’s BAC and that person’s degree of impairment.                                                                        

Myths on Alcohol That are Not True I can sober up by drinking black coffee, taking a cold shower, or doing exercises. One drink won’t hurt me. I will not be affected because I am only drinking beer. I can driver better after a few drinks. A younger person can not become a problem drinker. Designated Driver – one way to reduce the risk involved with drinking and driving is to appoint a person ahead of time who will not drink.

Myths about sobering up Cold Shower Exercise Hot Coffee Slap in the face Aspirin Deep Breathing

How much is too much? Bad indicators Reliable indicators How you feel Impressions of others Reliable indicators BAC-blood, alcohol concentration Breath Test

How much is too much? BAC % of alcohol in blood Four factors Quantity Body weight Time Food eaten

Don’t Drive The best way to reduce risk of crash caused by drinking and driving is to not drive at all after drinking

BAC Under 21: .01 and above, illegal to drive Over 21: .08 and over illegal to drive

Risks of causing a crash BAC of .05 - doubles BAC of .10 - six times BAC of .15 -twenty-five times

How much is too much? 1.5 ounces of Liquor 12 ounces of beer 5 ounces of wine Studies show that most people arrested for drinking and driving had been drinking beer

Breath Test Refusal Equal to driving with a .08 BAC Loss of driving privilege for 7 months to a year MVC insurance surcharge of $1000 per three years

Signs of a Drunk Driver Speeding Weaving Slow Driving Jerky Motions Quick Stops

The Good Host Always provide alcohol free drinks Serve food Stop serving well before party ends Host may be involved in lawsuit if a guest is involved in an accident

Drugs and driving It is illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of any illegal drugs Drugs that may affect basic driving skills include: Cold pills Tranquilizers Prescription drugs Prescription drugs with no prescription are considered illegal drugs