Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime. It’s sometimes called driving while intoxicated or DUI, and it involves operating a vehicle with an unrestricted blood-alcohol content (BAC) level of at least 0.08%. However, drivers who drink even small amounts are also in danger. These drivers may not show any warning signs that they’re under the influence, but that doesn’t make it less dangerous. It’s important to remember that drinking and driving are illegal no matter what form and can come with strict punishment on behalf of law enforcement. Review this helpful California DUI penalties chart to give you an understanding of 2022 DUI laws and penalties.
Dangers of Drunk Driving
Any level of alcohol in your bloodstream can affect how you drive. Alcohol abuse also has a variety of effects that put you at risk of causing accidents or highway injuries. To drive safely, you need the ability to concentrate, be good at making judgments and be able to react to situations. However, when someone takes alcohol, these skills are affected, making it difficult to drive; this puts you and others in danger as well.
1. You are Unable to Respond to Situations Quickly
Alcohol, when consumed, can slow down your reaction time. This can make you more at risk of accidents if you’re driving or just crossing a street. If someone in front of you suddenly brakes or a pedestrian is crossing the area, it will take longer for your brain to process and prevent an accident as opposed to not drinking alcohol.
2. Poor Coordination Skills
Too much alcohol makes it difficult to use your critical skills (like eye, hand, and foot coordination). This can be dangerous in a situation when driving. Some telltale signs of reduced coordination include trouble walking, swaying, and inability to stand straight. Too much alcohol can even make it difficult to get into your car or find its ignition key because, without the crucial skills mentioned above, this is an impossible task for most people.
3. Reduces Concentration
When you drink alcohol, whether much or little, it can affect your concentration. Every driver needs undivided attention, such as staying in the lane you’re headed for, keeping your speed at a safe level, and watching out for other cars on the road and traffic signals. Drinking alcohol also significantly increases the chance of an accident happening because drinking reduces the ability to pay attention.
4. Blurred Vision
Drinking excessively can negatively affect your vision. After drinking, you may notice your vision is blurred or that you’re unable to control your eye movement. Impaired sight can cause difficulty judging the distance between a car and any other vehicles on the road, as well as fewer objects being visible in peripheral areas of what’s in front of you when looking straight ahead. California DUI penalties chart has shown that the number of drivers with blurred vision is increasing every day.
5. Lack of Judgement
Your brain helps you make decisions when operating a vehicle. It’s important to be able to anticipate dangers and react accordingly, like if another car should cut in front of you. If your judgment is impaired, then causing an accident is much more likely than if you were sober.
