Drunk Driving Accidents: Celebrate Life with Safety Mindedness

Posted in Auto Accidents on April 12, 2013

The Importance of Minimizing Drunk Driving Accidents To Celebrate Life and Holidays

Celebrating the holidays is something to look forward to every year. Many families celebrate by getting together to enjoy traditional meals, share stories, give gifts, and to create memories that will carry them until next years’ holiday celebrations. While each holiday is a reason to celebrate safely, there are many who choose to celebrate irresponsibly.

Irresponsible holiday revelers can over indulge in alcohol or other alertness altering substances, and then take their immoderate celebration into the streets. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is illegal; unfortunately, this doesn’t keep these celebrants from acting without caution. The definition of driving drunk is: the act of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit. In New York, the state BAC for DWAI (driving while ability impaired) is 0.05%, and the BAC for DUI is 0.08%.

When driving under the influence, also known as driving while intoxicated, the driver:

• Cannot react as quickly to dangers or obstacle in the road, including other vehicles and pedestrians
• Cannot see or hear as clearly. Visual acuity is reduced by up to 32%, tunnel vision and loss of depth perception are also very common side effects. Sounds outside of the vehicle can be muffled.
• Cannot coordinate their own movement, which leads to staggered walking, tripping, inability to talk in a straight line, and inability to adequately control a vehicle.
• Cannot make an intelligent decision which is why they are behind the wheel in the first place.
• Cannot understand simple signs and signals which can lead to them running red lights, failing to stop at a crosswalk, or speeding.
• Cannot concentrate. Lack of focus effects sober drivers, image how it can effect drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

With a BAC of 0.08%, a driver is four times more likely to cause an accident than a driver who isn’t impaired. The higher the driver’s BAC, the higher the probability that an accident will occur.

The best rule of thumb to follow during the holidays is to celebrate with moderation, and to stay off the roads if you drink alcoholic beverages.

ELIMINATE DRUNK DRIVING: For more information on how to celebrate soberly and prevent DUIs, visit the MADD website.

If someone you care about has been injured by a negligent driver who was intoxicated, you should contact our firm right away to schedule an appointment so we can discuss your case.

We are a team of knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys who do everything we can to help bring justice by defending the legals rights of injured victims. You will not pay a dime unless we win your case, so contact me today for a free no consultation regarding your personal injury. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you!