Most people are aware that driving when drunk is dangerous. However, many people have no idea what exactly it does to their ability to drive. Some people do not realize that just one drink can have an impact. Keep reading to learn what affect various BACs have on a person’s ability to drive. If you have been injured in a car accident in which a person was under the influence, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
BAC .02
When a person’s blood alcohol concentration is 0.02, they likely feel relaxed, their body feels warm, they may have lost some ability to make reasonable judgments, and their mood is altered. Issues that can affect their ability to drive safely include a decrease in visual function including rapid tracking of moving targets, and a lack of divided attention, which means they have a harder time completing two tasks at the same time.
BAC .05
When they get to BAC 0.05, they have likely lost small-muscle control (such as the ability to accurately focus their eyes), they have impaired judgment, they are less alert, their inhabitations are reduced, and they are likely feeling good. Their driving is likely impaired by their reduced coordination, difficulty in steering, lowered response to emergency situations, and a lack of ability to track moving objects. Note that at this point, it is still legal to drive.
BAC .08
This is the first point at which it is against the law to drive. BAC 0.08 is when muscle coordination becomes poor. This includes vision, reaction time, hearing, balance, and speech. It is harder for a person to detect danger, to judge situations, to control themselves, and to maintain self-control. The memory can be impaired. The symptoms that make it harder to drive safely include limited concentration, loss of short-term memory, issues controlling speed, reduced ability to processing information, and impaired perception of what is happening around them.
BAC .10
At this point, when a person’s BAC is 0.10, they have significant deterioration of reaction time and control. Their speech is slurred, their coordination is poor, and they are thinking more slowly. They will have a very hard time staying within their lane if they drive, and they will be unlikely to be able to brake appropriately.
BAC .15
When a person’s BAC is 0.15, they have very little muscle control than they normally would. At this point, they may vomit, and they are likely to lose balance. Their driving will be significantly impacted by their impairment in controlling the vehicle, their inability to pay attention to driving, and the lack of visual and auditory processing.
If you have suffered an injury in a drunk driving accident, or you have lost a loved one to this type of accident, you may have civil options available. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to learn more about personal injury cases.