Bell Ringer Bell Ringer

How does alcohol affect your How does alcohol affect your ability to drive?ability to drive?

What is meant by blood What is meant by blood alcohol concentration?alcohol concentration?

Driver’s EducationDriver’s Education

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Drinking, Drugs Drinking, Drugs

and Drivingand Driving

Learning Objectives Learning Objectives

• Explain how alcohol affects mental Explain how alcohol affects mental and physical abilities needed for and physical abilities needed for driving.driving.

• Define Blood alcohol concentrationDefine Blood alcohol concentration• Explain factors that affect blood Explain factors that affect blood

alcohol concentrationalcohol concentration• List 5 myths and truths about the List 5 myths and truths about the

use of alcoholuse of alcohol

Effects of Alcohol on Driving Effects of Alcohol on Driving SafetySafety

• Alcohol is the most commonly used Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in our society today.drug in our society today.

• By far the most frequently used By far the most frequently used drug in fatally injured drivers.drug in fatally injured drivers.

• All states now enforce a minimum All states now enforce a minimum driving age is 21, laws against driving age is 21, laws against underage drinking are more strictly underage drinking are more strictly and more vigorously enforced now and more vigorously enforced now than ever. than ever.

Alcohol FactsAlcohol Facts

• Alcohol Alcohol – is the – is the commonly used term commonly used term for the chemical for the chemical substance ethanol, substance ethanol, grain alcohol, or ethyl grain alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.alcohol.

• Alcohol is the product Alcohol is the product of the fermentation of of the fermentation of fruits, grains, and fruits, grains, and other plants.other plants.

• Alcohol is classified as Alcohol is classified as a drug because of the a drug because of the effects on the CNS.effects on the CNS.

Alcohol FactsAlcohol Facts• Younger people who drink Younger people who drink

and drive are involved in and drive are involved in twice as many fatal crashes twice as many fatal crashes as people over 21.as people over 21.

• Drivers aged 16-20 are Drivers aged 16-20 are more likely to be alcohol-more likely to be alcohol-impaired than any other impaired than any other group.group.

• Nearly half of those killed in Nearly half of those killed in alcohol-related collisions alcohol-related collisions had not been drinking, but had not been drinking, but were victims of drunk were victims of drunk drivers.drivers.

• More than half of all More than half of all fatalities during holidays are fatalities during holidays are alcohol-related.alcohol-related.

How Alcohol Affects How Alcohol Affects BehaviorsBehaviors

• Just one drink can Just one drink can affect a person’s affect a person’s behavior, both behavior, both mentally, and mentally, and physically.physically.

• The same amount of The same amount of alcohol does not affect alcohol does not affect people the same way.people the same way.

• The best way to avoid The best way to avoid changes in behavior is changes in behavior is to abstain from to abstain from drinking.drinking.

•ONE DRINK = 12 OZ. BEER/4OZ. WINE/1OZ. 80 PROOF LIQUORONE DRINK = 12 OZ. BEER/4OZ. WINE/1OZ. 80 PROOF LIQUOR

•APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGEAPPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE

•DriDrinksnks

•Body Weight in PoundsBody Weight in Pounds

•100100 •120 120 •140140 •160 160 •180180 •200 200 •220220 •240 240

•11 •.04 .04 •.03.03 •.03 .03 •.02.02 •.02 .02 •.02.02 •.02 .02 •.02.02

•22 •.08 .08 •.06.06 •.05 .05 •.05.05 •.04 .04 •.04.04 •.03 .03 •.03.03

•33 •.11 .11 •.09.09 •.08 .08 •.07.07 •.06 .06 •.06.06 •.05 .05 •.05.05

•44 •.15 .15 •.12.12 •.11 .11 •.09.09 •.08 .08 •.08.08 •.07 .07 •.06.06

•55 •.19 .19 •.16.16 •.13 .13 •.12.12 •.11 .11 •.09.09 •.09 .09 •.08.08

•66 •.23 .23 •.19.19 •.16 .16 •.14.14 •.13 .13 •.11.11 •.10 .10 •.09.09

•77 •.26 .26 •.22.22 •.19 .19 •.16.16 •.15 .15 •.13.13 •.12 .12 •.11.11

•88 •.30 .30 •.25.25 •.21 .21 •.19.19 •.17 .17 •.15.15 •.14 .14 •.13.13

•99 •.34 .34 •.28.28 •.24 .24 •.21.21 •.19 .19 •.17.17 •.15 .15 •.14.14

•1010 •.38 .38 •.31.31 •.27 .27 •.23.23 •.21 .21 •.19.19 •.17 .17 •.16.16

Mental Abilities and Mental Abilities and AlcoholAlcohol

• Alcohol is absorbed directly and quickly into Alcohol is absorbed directly and quickly into the bloodstream through the walls and linings the bloodstream through the walls and linings of the digestive tract.of the digestive tract.

• Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it quickly Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it quickly flows to the brain.flows to the brain.

• Judgment and Reason – the two most critical Judgment and Reason – the two most critical skills needed by a driver, become impaired.skills needed by a driver, become impaired.

• Physical abilities become impaired soon Physical abilities become impaired soon afterward.afterward.

Judgment and ReasonJudgment and Reason

• A driver affected by alcohol A driver affected by alcohol has a decreased ability to has a decreased ability to reason clearly and make reason clearly and make sound judgments.sound judgments.

• The driver may actually feel The driver may actually feel that their thinking and that their thinking and judgment abilities are judgment abilities are sharper, quicker, and more sharper, quicker, and more accurate.accurate.

• However, alcohol puts However, alcohol puts sound judgment on hold.sound judgment on hold.

Judgment and ReasonJudgment and Reason• EuphoriaEuphoria – false feeling of well- – false feeling of well-

being.being.

• Because alcohol distorts vision, Because alcohol distorts vision, visual search patterns can be visual search patterns can be effected.effected.

• Alcohol weakens a person Alcohol weakens a person inhibitions, the inner forces that inhibitions, the inner forces that restrain or hold back one’s restrain or hold back one’s impulsive behavior.impulsive behavior.

• Examples: driving to fast or taking Examples: driving to fast or taking needless risks. needless risks.

Physical AbilitiesPhysical Abilities

• Alcohol effects the area Alcohol effects the area of the brain that controls of the brain that controls muscular movement, muscular movement, reflexes, and balance.reflexes, and balance.

• Impaired drivers may Impaired drivers may take more time to take more time to process dangerous process dangerous situations when driving.situations when driving.

• Alcohol slows reflexes Alcohol slows reflexes and reaction time, and reaction time, muscular coordination muscular coordination becomes slow and becomes slow and clumsy.clumsy.

Seeing and Speaking Seeing and Speaking AbilitiesAbilities

• Impairment occurs in visual Impairment occurs in visual acuity, peripheral vision, night acuity, peripheral vision, night vision, color vision, and depth vision, color vision, and depth perception.perception.

• The reaction of the pupil is The reaction of the pupil is impaired, so when approached impaired, so when approached by bright lights, the pupil does by bright lights, the pupil does not become small rapidly. This not become small rapidly. This cause you to temporarily cause you to temporarily blind.blind.

• You will also see multiple You will also see multiple images.images.

• Alcohol can also effect speech.Alcohol can also effect speech.• Speech may become slurred Speech may become slurred

and fuzzy, it may also fail to and fuzzy, it may also fail to convey meaning.convey meaning.

Other Physical ProblemsOther Physical Problems

• Death can occur if a Death can occur if a large amount of large amount of alcohol is consumed alcohol is consumed over a short period of over a short period of time.time.

• Long-term effect – Long-term effect – drinking can lead to drinking can lead to alcoholism, which is an alcoholism, which is an addiction to alcohol.addiction to alcohol.

The Effects of AlcoholThe Effects of Alcohol

• Driving under the influence means: your Driving under the influence means: your senses and judgment are impaired by senses and judgment are impaired by alcoholalcohol

• After two, three or four drinksAfter two, three or four drinks– Reaction timeReaction time– CoordinationCoordination– Balance Balance

• The only thing that can sober you up is The only thing that can sober you up is timetime

Alcohol in the BodyAlcohol in the Body

• Blood Alcohol Blood Alcohol Concentration(BAC)Concentration(BAC) – the – the amount of alcohol in the amount of alcohol in the blood.blood.

• Each drink you have adds Each drink you have adds about .02 to .03 % to the about .02 to .03 % to the persons BAC.persons BAC.

• In New Jersey it is illegal for In New Jersey it is illegal for a motorist 21 and older with a motorist 21 and older with a BAC of .08 or higher to a BAC of .08 or higher to drive.drive.

• For motorist younger than For motorist younger than 21, it is illegal to drive with 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .01 or higher.a BAC of .01 or higher.

Factors Affecting BACFactors Affecting BAC

• Amount of alcohol Amount of alcohol consumed consumed – the more a – the more a person drinks, the higher the person drinks, the higher the BAC.BAC.

• Amount of time over which Amount of time over which the alcohol is consumed – the alcohol is consumed – BAC rises if only short periods BAC rises if only short periods of time elapse between drinks.of time elapse between drinks.

• Person’s body weight – Person’s body weight – a a heavier person may be affected heavier person may be affected less by the same amount of less by the same amount of alcohol as a smaller person.alcohol as a smaller person.

• To a lesser degree, some types To a lesser degree, some types of food in the stomach my slow of food in the stomach my slow the rate at which alcohol is the rate at which alcohol is absorbed.absorbed.

Control DrinkingControl Drinking

Responsible people can limit their drinking by Responsible people can limit their drinking by taking the following actions.taking the following actions.

• Get involved in other activities.Get involved in other activities.• Put a limit on how many drinks you are Put a limit on how many drinks you are

going to have and stick to it.going to have and stick to it.• Avoid drinks with high alcohol concentration.Avoid drinks with high alcohol concentration.• Drink slowly, try not to have more then one Drink slowly, try not to have more then one

drink per hour.drink per hour.• Be aware of your physical and mental Be aware of your physical and mental

behaviors.behaviors.

Controlling ImpairmentControlling Impairment• Alcohol continues to Alcohol continues to

circulate throughout circulate throughout the body until it is the body until it is oxidized and removed oxidized and removed by the liver.by the liver.

• The body rids itself of The body rids itself of alcohol at a rate of one alcohol at a rate of one drink every ¾ of an drink every ¾ of an hour.hour.

• Only time can reduce Only time can reduce the person’s BAC and the person’s BAC and that person’s degree of that person’s degree of impairment.impairment.

•

                                                                                                              

                                

Myths on Alcohol That are Myths on Alcohol That are Not TrueNot True

• I can sober up by drinking black coffee, taking a I can sober up by drinking black coffee, taking a cold shower, or doing exercises.cold shower, or doing exercises.

• One drink won’t hurt me.One drink won’t hurt me.• I will not be affected because I am only drinking I will not be affected because I am only drinking

beer.beer.• I can driver better after a few drinks.I can driver better after a few drinks.• A younger person can not become a problem A younger person can not become a problem

drinker.drinker.• Designated DriverDesignated Driver – one way to reduce the risk – one way to reduce the risk

involved with drinking and driving is to appoint a involved with drinking and driving is to appoint a person ahead of time who will not drink.person ahead of time who will not drink.

Myths about sobering upMyths about sobering up

• Cold ShowerCold Shower• ExerciseExercise• Hot CoffeeHot Coffee• Slap in the faceSlap in the face• Aspirin Aspirin • Deep BreathingDeep Breathing

How much is too much?How much is too much?

• Bad indicatorsBad indicators– How you feelHow you feel– Impressions of Impressions of

othersothers

• Reliable indicatorsReliable indicators– BAC-blood, alcohol BAC-blood, alcohol

concentrationconcentration– Breath TestBreath Test

How much is too much?How much is too much?

• BACBAC– % of alcohol in blood% of alcohol in blood– Four factorsFour factors

• QuantityQuantity• Body weightBody weight• TimeTime• Food eatenFood eaten

Don’t DriveDon’t Drive

• The best way to The best way to reduce risk of reduce risk of crash caused crash caused by drinking and by drinking and driving is to not driving is to not drive at all after drive at all after drinkingdrinking

BACBAC

• Under 21: .01 and above, illegal to Under 21: .01 and above, illegal to drivedrive

• Over 21: .08 and over illegal to Over 21: .08 and over illegal to drivedrive

Risks of causing a crashRisks of causing a crash

• BAC of .05 - BAC of .05 - doublesdoubles

• BAC of .10 - six BAC of .10 - six timestimes

• BAC of .15 -BAC of .15 -twenty-five timestwenty-five times

How much is too much?How much is too much?

• 1.5 ounces of Liquor1.5 ounces of Liquor• 12 ounces of beer12 ounces of beer• 5 ounces of wine5 ounces of wine• Studies show that Studies show that

most people arrested most people arrested for drinking and for drinking and driving had been driving had been drinking beerdrinking beer

Breath Test RefusalBreath Test Refusal

• Equal to driving with a .08 BAC Equal to driving with a .08 BAC

– Loss of driving privilege for 7 months Loss of driving privilege for 7 months to a yearto a year

– MVC insurance surcharge of $1000 MVC insurance surcharge of $1000 per three yearsper three years

Signs of a Drunk DriverSigns of a Drunk Driver

• SpeedingSpeeding

• WeavingWeaving

• Slow DrivingSlow Driving

• Jerky MotionsJerky Motions

• Quick StopsQuick Stops

The Good HostThe Good Host

• Always provide alcohol free drinksAlways provide alcohol free drinks• Serve foodServe food• Stop serving well before party endsStop serving well before party ends• Host may be involved in lawsuit if a Host may be involved in lawsuit if a

guest is involved in an accidentguest is involved in an accident

Drugs and drivingDrugs and driving

• It is illegal to operate a vehicle under It is illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of any illegal drugsthe influence of any illegal drugs

• Drugs that may affect basic driving skills Drugs that may affect basic driving skills include:include:– Cold pillsCold pills– TranquilizersTranquilizers– Prescription drugsPrescription drugs

• Prescription drugs with no prescription Prescription drugs with no prescription are considered illegal drugsare considered illegal drugs