Drinking and Driving Myths
The holidays are coming up, so it’s natural to spend time enjoying good food and drinks with friends. However, you must recognize the many drinking and driving myths that are out there, and understand that the only way to drive safely is to not drink at all before getting behind the wheel. Drinking and driving is dangerous, read on to learn some real drunk driving facts.
7 Drinking and Driving Myths to Rethink – Drink and Drive Facts and Facts About Drinking and Driving
Myth 1: It’s okay to have one or two drinks if you’re driving, as long as you’re eating something.
Fact: If you’re driving, you shouldn’t drink. Period. There’s no amount of alcohol that is safe to consume if you will be driving, even if you’ve eaten food recently.
Myth 2: Coffee will sober you up.
Fact: Coffee is a stimulant. It only makes you nervous and jumpy while you remain intoxicated. Your reflexes and judgment will still be impaired if you are drinking and driving, even if you have had a cup of coffee.
Myth 3: Drinking beer or wine doesn’t have as much effect on you as hard liquor.
Fact: The Minnesota Safety Council observes that a 12-ounce beer contains as much alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 ounce shot of 80-proof whiskey. Depending on the type of beverage you consume, it will vary in the amount of alcohol in a serving, but alcohol is alcohol.
Myth 4: You can always sober up by taking a cold shower, splashing your face with cold water, or lowering the car door window when you drive.
Fact: The only way to become sober is to allow enough time for the alcohol in your blood to metabolize. It takes about two hours for your blood to break down one beer or one glass of wine.
Myth 5: One drink “sharpens you up” and makes you a better driver.
Fact: Small amounts of alcohol have the opposite effect. Just one drink can cloud your thinking, slow your reflexes, and even affect your vision. All of these changes can impair you while you drive and make you a danger to others on the road.
Myth 6: If you are a larger person, you can handle more alcohol.
Fact: It is true that the same amount of alcohol given to a smaller person can take more time for their system to metabolize than if it is given to a larger person. However, there are other factors involved, including body chemistry, whether or not you’ve had enough sleep, or whether you’ve eaten. If any of those factors come into play, a larger person’s reflexes, vision, or judgment can become impaired — even if they only consume small amounts of alcohol.
Myth 7: If you drive slowly after you’ve been drinking, you’ll be able to handle the road.
Fact: Driving slowly when you are intoxicated or impaired does not help. You won’t be able to compensate for the impairments in your reflexes, judgment, or sight caused by the alcohol in your system. Operating a slow-moving vehicle under the influence will still present a danger to others on the road.
These myths about drinking and driving prove that there’s no way to safely operate a vehicle unless you haven’t consumed any alcohol. Likewise, there’s no way to become sober except for giving the alcohol enough time to pass through your system. The only way to be sober on the road is to follow one simple rule: If you drive, don’t drink.
RoadGuard Interlock is the manufacturer of ignition interlock devices (IID). We want to educate the public on the myths about drinking and driving and spread the word that no amount of alcohol in your system is safe if you are driving. Drinking and driving is never a good idea. For more information about drunk driving facts or DUI laws, check out our blog page. If you are required to get an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle after a DUI, you can trust in RoadGuard Interlock to help you navigate through your ignition interlock requirements, every step of the way. Contact us today!
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