Essay Sample on Drinking and Driving

Introduction

Drinking while driving can be described as getting behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. DUI (Driving under influence) and DWI (driving while intoxicated) are also phrases used to describe drunk driving. They describe it as using a motorized vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) measured from a minimum percentage of 0.08. Those whose who are at big risk for driving under the influence of alcohol are those who struggle with an alcohol-related disorder of consuming a lot of alcoholic content over a short period. Such consumption affects their mental skills and slows down their breathing to that effect. Driving under the influence of alcohol is regarded as a serious crime and comes with severe punishment. It is due to drinking and driving that an estimated number of 28 people die every day in the United States whereas, over 10,000 Americans are annually killed from drunk driving-related car crashes. Out of traffic-related deaths in the United States, drunk driving related accidents account for nearly a third of those. It is due to this that drinking and driving are illegal and comes with severe punishments in most countries globally.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Reduced Concentration: How Alcohol Affects Driving Focus

Reduced concentration, Intake of a substantial amount of alcohol can affect one's ability in driving in that; it reduces their level which is crucial in driving. As a result, one is easily able to cause an accident or course highway injuries through careless driving. With reduced level, one's focus is strained, and they are unable to make quick and proper judgments in unexpected situations. Instead, they are slow to react to situations which in most cases are always life and death situations. During the driving, some things require your undivided attention and concentration. Staying in one's drive lane, checking their speed as per the speed limit signs and following the traffic signals are some of the essential aspects to be checked during driving. However, with alcohol in one's bloodstream, their concentration span is hugely affected and with this their chance of causing an accident is significantly increased.

Slow Reaction Time: The Impact of Alcohol on Response Speed

Slow reaction time is some of the side effects of drinking. With alcoholic content in one's system, their response time is slowed down. Slowed response time is due to the brain taking longer to process information. For instance, if the drunk driver suddenly experiences instant breaks from the car ahead, of them due to an animal crossing, it will take the time to do quick breaks too to avoid an accident in such a situation. Drunk drivers have inhibited judgment, it is from one's brains that certain circumstances are judged, and when operating a car, their judgment plays an essential role in making the critical judgments. It is from evident judgment skills that one can foresee potential threats during driving and make proper decisions regarding evading (Smith, 65). One's judgment helps them stay awake and alert of their surroundings to avoid accidents that crop from minor careless situations caused by fellow drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.

Decreased Vision: Effects of Alcohol on Eyesight While Driving

Another effect of consumption of alcohol before driving is decreased vision. Intake of alcohol in one way or the other has impacts on one's vision in that, their vision is not only blurred, but they also find it hard to control their eye movement. The eyes become heavy and lazier in their eye sockets with no clarity in whatever they see. It due to this that drunk drivers miss lanes miss road signs of saying "bend ahead" and swerve into roadside ditches and forest. Blurred vision also affects the peripheral view of such drivers. Peripheral vision is what one sees either side of their sight when driving and are looking straight right ahead. With alcohol side effect of decreased vision, there is little to no peripheral view seen by a drunk driver. Also, impaired vision also determines how one judges' car to car distance regarding keeping that standard range between one's car and the other. Under the strong influence, it is difficult to make such judgments hence drunk drivers are prone to minor accidents of hitting other vehicle's bumpers and side mirrors.

Drinking and Driving Among Younger Populations: Risks and Consequences

Consumption of alcohol is risky as it puts anyone in the position of causing an accident or road injuries. Younger population of ages between 16 to 20 years old have a higher likelihood of getting involved in fatal road accidents as a result of drinking than drivers over the age of 21 (Merrick, 263). It is due to this that many nations globally are pushing for no alcohol consumption for the young generation to avoid accidents as a result of drinking and driving. It is approximated that ages of between 21 and 24 have the second highest drinking and driving related crashes as a high number of persons in that age bracket are mostly involved in binge drinking. These habits entail taking too much alcohol over a short period to the extent that their blood alcohol content surpasses 0.08 percentage minimum required to operate behind the wheel (Merrick, 264). Young professionals and university /college students are most affected as it is in that age that they have the hype for parties and the freedom and access to alcoholic content.

Drinking and Driving Laws: Regulations and Consequences

On drinking and driving laws, each country around the world has its rules and regulations governing drinking and driving. International laws constitute a percentage of 0.08 or higher for driving while intoxicated. It outlines the automobiles that should not be operated with alcohol influence as a truck, snowmobile, car, golf cart, motorbikes, bicycles and even jet skis. The different drinking and driving convictions included fines, jail times and revoked driving licenses. Some victims of such are involved in community services such as sweeping streets or even rehabilitation processes depending on charges by legal institutions. On the other hand, the different states of America have endorsed various laws targeting mainly the adolescents who consume a lot of alcohol and get behind the wheel to drive.

Consequences of Drinking and Driving: Impact on Lives and Society

Drinking and driving can affect one's life in some ways. It is from its consequences that families get hurt and relationships are broken. Accidents as a result of drinking and driving snatch families of their loved ones hence miserable experiences and broken marriages. Drinking and driving may also cost one employment opportunity as no one will want to employ those with alcoholic habits as their diver or company drivers. As such lead to uncalled for losses resulting from consequences of drinking and driving. Other consequences of drinking and driving are financial difficulties, high insurance rates and possible jail terms that rip one of their freedom and development depending on the time spent in jail.

There are various ways of avoiding drunk driving accidents that help in promoting road safety. Asking a friend to give one a ride home or calling for a taxi when they are drunk is one such way of avoiding alcohol-related driving accidents (Hingson, 219). On the other hand, one can offer to drive a friend as a kind gesture which can also help avoid any consequences. During parties, set a designated friend who stays away from alcoholic content, this is a right way of keeping sober so that they can drive the rest of the drunk friends after a night of drinking. For party hosts, plenty of non-alcoholic drinks should be offered with plenty of food whereas keeping alcoholic beverages from the minors. In case of drunk friends, party hosts should help arrange for transportation to help such friends arrive home safely.

Conclusion

It is not easy detecting drunk drivers for regular road users, but the following will help one judge drunk driving; if they are driving too fast of rather too slow then one should be very careful when approaching such vehicles. If they are ignoring traffic lights/ signals or giving slow responses or even driving against road sign requirements, then one should take an utmost careful approach to such. Finally, if they are making wild turns regardless of pedestrians crossing signs and are stopping without any reason, then it is to avoid such drivers on driving lane and report as quickly as possible to the nearest traffic police or security persons to intervene before the victims cause grievous accidents.

Work Cited

Hingson, Ralph. "Prevention of drinking and driving." Alcohol Research and Health 20.4 (1996): 219.

Joav Merrick, M. D., Ariel Tenenbaum, and M. D. Mohammed Morad. "Youth, drinking and driving." International Journal of Child Health and Human Development 6.3 (2013): 263.

Smith, H. Ward. "Drinking and driving." Crim. LQ 3 (1960): 65.