A person who has been drinking may consider operating their vehicle because they believe they are still capable of driving safely. However, alcohol is a kind of depressant drug that affects the central nervous system, especially the brain. This means that alcohol intoxication can affect a person’s vision and experience of reality. In fact, they will not be able to act and respond to things accordingly. Finally, drunk people do not know how much their ability to drive has been affected.
A drunk driver will not be able to accurately judge the speeds and distance of other vehicles, and will not be able to respond to potential hazards or changes in traffic situations. The ability to multitask is also reduced. For example, a drunk driver will not be able to stop immediately when a pedestrian suddenly crosses the street.
slow reaction time: Drivers should understand that even small amounts of alcohol will affect your body and your ability to drive. They may find it difficult to react immediately when something unexpected happens. This is due to the fact that the brain will take longer to receive and process messages from other parts of the body. The process of digesting the information becomes much more difficult and the instructions sent to the muscles will be delayed. Alcohol intoxication can slow reaction time by 10% to 30%.
inadequate muscle function: As mentioned above, alcohol affects the central nervous system and the brain. This leads to loss of coordination and control of muscle movements. Therefore, it makes it more difficult to operate a moving vehicle.
vision and hearing problems: The common mistake made by drivers who get behind the wheel despite being drunk is assuming that they can drive safely if they just focus on the road. However, drunk drivers often focus on what is ahead of them and forget to look at what is happening in their side vision. In addition, alcohol also reduces the driver’s ability to see things from a distance. Your night vision will be reduced by 25%. Drunk drivers may also experience blurred or double vision.
Impaired judgment or reasoning: Alcohol intoxication will also affect the rational part of your brain that handles proper judgment and reasoning. This means that the driver’s ability to judge what is right and wrong, good and bad, will be greatly affected.
Tips to avoid drunk driving
- Control how much you drink.
- Eat before you drink. If you have a full stomach, your body will absorb alcohol more slowly.
- If possible, don’t drive when you’ve had a few drinks. If you plan to drink, assign a designated driver or leave your car at home.
- Take a taxi or take the bus home if you’re drunk. You can also sleep at your friend’s house.