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Every 90 seconds, a person gets injured in an alcohol-related car accident in the United States.
Every day, 28 people die in car crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in America.
Each year, more than $44 billion are spent on alcohol-related car accidents.
These statistics may seem quite shocking, but luckily there are effective measures that can help prevent injuries and deaths related to alcohol-impaired driving.
What’s Legal
In the state of California, it is illegal for drivers over the age of 21 who are operating a regular passenger vehicle to have a blood alcohol level of .08% or more. If operating a commercial vehicle, that blood alcohol level drops to a mere 0.04%.
The most widely accepted rule for staying below the legal limit is to have no more than one standard drink per hour, followed by a tall glass of water. To gauge how much is too much when it comes to drinking responsibly, consider that one standard drink is defined as:
- One 12-ounce beer
- One 5-ounce glass of wine
- One mixed drink with 1.5 ounces of liquor
- 1.5 ounces of liquor
Please be mindful that this rule does not apply to everyone. Tolerance varies greatly, and drinking at this rate is no guarantee that you will both stay under the legal limit and not pose a risk to yourself or others while driving. Still, the safest way to enjoy your alcohol is to have a designated driver.
The Sobering Truth
Have you ever heard that drinking black coffee or taking a cold shower will sober you up? How about eating food, drinking lots of water, or exercising? Unfortunately, while some of these tactics may have a slight effect, none of them will lower your blood alcohol content significantly enough or quickly enough to make it safe for you to drive.
Doing things like drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will help you feel more alert and sober, but actually, has no effect on your blood alcohol level. Because of that, you are still greatly at risk of hurting yourself or others behind the wheel.
Your Plan of Action
If you do plan on drinking, there are certain steps and precautions you should take in order to keep you, your passengers, and other people on the road safe.
First, choose a designated driver. This person is responsible for driving all those who consumed alcohol home safely and should not drink.
If no one in your group wants to be the designated driver or if the designated driver decides to drink, call a friend or family member to pick you up. If that is not an option, use a Taxi, Uber, or Lyft to drive you around for the evening.
Remember, driving while under the influence is not only dangerous for the impaired driver but also puts other motorists and pedestrians at serious risk, too. And the amount of alcohol it takes to impair your judgment is small. To play it safe, always choose a designated, sober driver to transport you safely.
