Safer Driving Is Important
This article is not another one on how to learn basic driving skills. You don’t need to be reading about changing lanes, parallel parking and turn signals. Instead you will be learning about the risks taken when drinking and driving and how drinking even a little before driving can cause major problems. Associations like MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have been able to make great strides in educating people about driving after drinking. However you should consider how drinking can affect your driving skills.
Just one drink can affect the way you multitask. Multitasking is a hard skill to accomplish even without alcohol and when you are under the influence it can become extremely hard. Some classic TV shows make fun of drunken people messing up as they try to multitask. We lose our ability to function normally when we are drinking and multitasking is a major skill that is affected.
Driving takes a lot of concentration, even for a sober person. One must constantly be watching side mirrors, rearview mirrors, and out the front windshield. Even on country roads where the chance of seeing someone else is small, we are paying attention to the road, our surroundings, and watching for any impending dangers (like animals in or near the road). If we can’t devote our full attention to driving, then driving is impaired.
Busy roads present a challenge even when you are sober. The reason is because a number of things can change in an instant. There are others driving on the road and they can often be unpredictable. For example there could be a driver beside you who can either brake half a mile before a stop sign or suddenly change lanes without warning. Not everyone is as careful on the road as they should be. Alcohol numbs the senses and makes your reaction times slower. The simple act of navigating through traffic can become difficult when our reactions become slow and there a chance that an accident can occur.
These are just some things that make driving safely hard, especially after a couple of drinks. It just illustrates that drinking and driving is not a good idea. It is best to avoid it as this can be very dangerous. You may consider not drinking at all or arrange for a designated driver. As a last resort you can even sleep in your car if there is no way to get home. After all, surely the safety of others and yourself are worth the sacrifices.
This information is provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
William Bly of Nielsen and Bly is an OUI lawyer in Maine whose website has more information available about Maine drunk driving laws.