Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

DUI, DWI, OUI, call it whatever you want, mixing drinking with driving is never a good idea. Motor vehicle accidents are still one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and regardless of all the warnings, public awareness programs, and penalties people will still get behind the wheel while intoxicated.

The legal limit is 0.08% BAC. To calculate BAC, take the grams of alcohol consumed and divide by the person's weight then multiply by 100.  Be aware that this formula does not consider personal factors that affect BAC: medication, weight, gender, body type, and food and water intake.

A 160-pound man who drank two 12-ounce beers in an hour would have an approximate BAC of 0.02. While he is well below the legal limits of driving under the influence, he is 1.4 times more likely to have a crash than someone who is sober. A person with a BAC of 0.10 is 7 times more likely to have a crash. A person with a BAC of 0.15 is 25 times more likely to crash.

Even though the legal amount is .08% BAC, lower amounts of alcohol can impair judgment and driving. Alcohol has a substantial effect on a person’s judgment, coordination, reaction time, concentration, and vision, which are all necessary to operate a vehicle. Some people do not overtly show signs of being under the influence, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous.

So here's the thing, there is no such thing as a good drunk driver. So if you’re wondering how many drinks you can have and drive, the real answer is zero. One of the issues with setting the legal limit for driving under the influence is it sends the message that if you are not yet legally drunk, you are okay to drive.

The drinking and driving facts and consequences are sobering:
huge fine
legal fees
jail time
loss of drivers license
insurance premiums increase
job loss
property damage
medical fees
injury
fatality

If the repercussions do not give you a wake-up call,
Exercise: 
Listen to Chris Sandy's story and then set out to make and follow through with a personal plan.
Have a plan before you go out as well as a contingency plan.
Hold each other accountable.
Be a responsible host.
Use a rideshare app.
Get a room.
Be a safe person that your friends can call anytime for help.

Journal
Have people annoyed me by criticizing my drinking?
Have I ever felt bad or guilty about my drinking?
Have there been situations where I ended up drinking much more than I intended?
Have I ever gotten behind the wheel of a car or a boat while drinking?
Am I willing to make good choices when I get behind the wheel?

Drive sober or get pulled over.

 From the sweetest spot in my heart to yours, may you make good choices,
Audrey xo 


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