Impaired driving is never a smart decision. You are putting yourself and anyone else you pass on the road at risk when you make this decision. Drinking and driving increases your chance of becoming a statistic, and not the type of statistic one would like to be.
That said, there is a lot of propaganda out there that has misguided the public’s perception toward drinking and driving.
The following myths are confusing and should be set-straight.
Myth: One drink can significantly increase the chances of being in an accident AND A Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test is a consistently reliable test to understand one’s impairment level.
These two myths are really one in the same. There isn’t a clear-cut answer to how much a single drink will affect a person. Your race, weight, DNA, fat-to-muscle ratio, what types of drinks you’ve consumed and other factors determine how one or more drinks will impair you and affect your ability to drive.
Myth: The average man or woman can have up to five drinks (depending) in one hour and stay under the legal BAC limit.
A person’s BAC value will increase for one and a half to three hours once you have finished drinking as the alcohol continues to circulate. This will happen even if you seem less impaired. When food is involved, BAC will continue to rise for up to six hours after your final drink.
Myth: Lowering the legal BAC limit of .08% will reduce alcohol-induced fatalities AND Lowering the BAC limit will lead to less drunk drivers on the road.
The truth is, in the United States, the average DUI offender blows a BAC reading of .15%. This number doesn’t change in countries that have lower BAC limits.
Go out, have fun and have some drinks, but remember; you won’t be the only one on the road, so plan accordingly.