Why Is it Bad to Drink & Drive?

Written by Sara Ipatenco; Updated December 09, 2018

Not only is drinking and driving against the law, it's among the most dangerous things you could do. Alcohol inhibits your ability to think clearly, which negatively impacts your ability to pay attention and make safe driving choices. If the law isn't enough of a deterrent, a clear understanding of what can happen when you drink and drive could be enough to discourage this reckless behavior.

Statistics

Approximately 112 million adults reported drinking and driving in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2009, almost 11,000 people died in car accidents involving at least one person whose blood-alcohol limit was above 0.08 percent, also according to the CDC. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving website reports that 27 people die each day because of drunk driving. Four out of every five drunk drivers are men, and 32 percent of all drunk driving incidents involve a male between the ages of 21 and 34.

Car Accidents

Car accidents are the primary danger associated with drinking and driving. Consuming too much alcohol impairs your ability to use your common sense and think long-term, according to DrinkingAndDriving.org. Having too much to drink also slows your reaction time and makes it difficult for your brain to process information. When all of these factors come into play, it makes for one dangerous and distracted driver. When you aren't able to pay attention to the cars around you, you're more likely to get into a car accident. When your reaction times are slower because of alcohol, you might not hit the brakes soon enough, which can cause serious accidents.

Danger to Others

When you get behind the wheel after having too much to drink, you're not only putting your own life in danger, but you're jeopardizing the safety of everyone else on the road, too. Many drunk drivers get into one-car accidents and seriously injure or kill themselves. In 22.3 percent of all car accidents causing driver death, the driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more, according to U.S. Census Bureau. In many other cases, they collide with other motorists, often seriously injuring or killing them. According to the "Journal of Political Economy," 53.2 percent of fatal car accidents involved one drunk driver and one sober driver.

How Much Is Too Much

By law, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is considered driving while drunk. For the average person, drinking the equivalent of four beers is enough to reach a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, according to the CDC. Certain people, such as small women, can be legally drunk after drinking two or three beers, however. After five beers, the average person will have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent, and after seven beers, that number rises to 0.15 percent. When you go out with friends or family, always pick someone to be the designated driver or plan to call a cab rather than driving home yourself. Never get into the car with someone who has been drinking either. If you suspect that someone is driving drunk while you're out on the road, call the police immediately.

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About the Author

Sara Ipatenco has taught writing, health and nutrition. She started writing in 2007 and has been published in Teaching Tolerance magazine. Ipatenco holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education, both from the University of Denver.

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