by Debbie Blumenthal

Created on: May 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Driving under the influence of alcohol is like playing with a loaded gun.

It is a well known fact that alcohol is a depressant. It slows you down, relaxes you, "takes the edge off". It diminishes your alertness, dulls perceptions, makes you drowsy. The list goes on. A good driver needs to be alert, perceptive and definitely wide awake.

After a single drink, you can often notice a reduction in motor capabilities and vision. After a second, the decline is less than subtle. Certain movements become more difficult. Feet don't step as lightly or accurately, hands may not move exactly as expected. Reaction time is slower. Drinks are inadvertently knocked over, toes get stepped on and tripping down stairs increases as the evening wears on. Voices slur, vision blurs, heads turn jerkily to look elsewhere, inhibitions fade and bravado steps in. Alcohol gives the drinker false confidence. A driver uses their hands and feet to control the vehicle. They need to be able to see clearly and react quickly.

Because alcohol also affects judgment, the person could actually believe they can drive as efficiently after drinking, as they had before the first drink. While this is obviously untrue, the person who has consumed alcohol may not recognize their impairment. Often it takes others to intervene on their behalf.

How do you determine you've had enough? There are a number of variables and no hard and fast rule that works for everyone. Generally speaking, gage your reactions and stop when you first see symptoms of minor impairment in your vision, speaking or movements. The faster you drink, the less likely you will stop before becoming drunk, so slow down.

If you intend to drink, plan to have someone else drive you home. If alcohol consumption was unplanned, you must take the responsibility for knowing how much is enough and when to stop drinking. As an example, if you consume a single glass of wine with dinner, allow at least an hour to pass after it is finished, before considering driving. Remember that each additional drink increases the amount of time the alcohol affects your body. Be safe. If there is any doubt, don't drive.

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