Legal Limits
The legal limits concerning drink driving are:
Over 20 years old?
- 400 micrograms per liter of breath
- 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood
Under 20 years old?
- 150 micrograms per liter of breath
- 30 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood
Penalties
Driving while under the influence is not worth it. The maximum penalties are:
- Up to 3 months in prison
- Up to $4,500 fine
- Mandatory disqualification of 6 months of drivers licence
Third and subsequent offence:
- Up to 2 years imprisonment
- Up to $6,000 fine
- Mandatory disqualification of 12 months of drivers licence
The Ultimate Cost: Your life or someone else's
Statistics
For the period 2004 to 2009, South Canterbury had 238 reported alcohol related crashes, 6 fatal, 29 serious injuries, 83 minor injuries and 146 damage only.
It is important to know that this is only the tip of the ice berg, because for every reported crash there are a few crashes that are not being reported for obvious reasons. This may also give drivers the perception that the chances of being caught are very slim. However this is not very mature thinking. All the drivers that crashed did not think it would happen to them!
Effects of alcohol on people
Alcohol and vehicles are a deadly mix. Each year many families lose loved ones, or people are mutilated for life because an impaired driver made a reckless decision to drink and drive.
Alcohol is a depressant. It is absorbed into the blood stream and affects body functions. Although quickly absorbed, it remains in the body for an extended period of time. Many mistakenly believe that strong coffee or a cold shower will alleviate the effects of alcohol. These remedies do not work, however; only time will eliminate alcohol from the body.
Alcohol reduces driving skills
Alcohol has a profound effect on driving skills. Because of its depressant effects, drivers can misjudge their capabilities. Some of the effects of alcohol that affect driving include:
- reaction time - slow reflexes can decrease the ability to react swiftly to situations
- vision - eye muscles function more slowly. Eye movement and perception are altered, possibly resulting in blurred vision. Night vision and colour perception are also impaired.
- tracking - the ability to judge the car's position on the road, the location of other vehicles, centre line, road signs, etc., can be adversely affected.
- concentration - attention to driving may decrease and/or drowsiness may occur
- comprehension - the depressant effect of alcohol hinders the ability to make rational decisions
- coordination - the mechanics of driving can be affected by reduced eye/hand/foot coordination.
Mixing alcohol and other drugs
If alcohol is used in conjunction with other drugs (legal or illegal), the effects of both substances can be increased- a potentially deadly situation. Education efforts should include increased awareness about this synergistic effect as well. In the case of prescription drugs, health professionals must educate patients about the dangers of combining alcohol with medications.
Getting home afterwards
Blood alcohol concentration is affected by body weight and number of drinks ingested. If you are going to drink, the safest course of action is to make alternative transportation arrangements before you start drinking. These might include:
- public transportation
- taxis
- designated drivers
- prior arrangements to stay overnight
- calling someone to pick you up
Intoxicated driver ahead!
If you observe a drunk driver, do not attempt to approach with your vehicle. Instead, call the police. Drunk drivers are risking their own lives and the lives of others. Signs of a possible drunk driver are:
- unable to stay within a traffic lane
- driving too fast or too slow
- taking wide turns
- slowing down and speeding up erratically
- driving too close behind another vehicle
- pulling over recklessly
- driving without using headlights
Reduced driver performance even at low levels
Performance becomes much worse as the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases, for example:
- .02 to .05 BAC - the ability to judge distances and to see or locate moving lights correctly is reduced. The tendency to take risks is increased, and the ability to respond to several stimuli is decreased.
- .05 to .08 BAC - the ability to judge distances is further reduced, reactions are slower, and concentration span is shorter. Drivers are five times more likely to have a crash than before they started drinking.
- .08 to .12 BAC - over-confidence sets in, over-estimation of one’s abilities leads to reckless driving, and peripheral vision and perception of obstacles are impaired. Drivers are ten times more likely to have a crash.
There is so much information available to help someone make an informed decision, but it is up to the individual to take the first step.
You may ask where the young drivers 15-18 get their alcohol from. The answer in most cases is from home or from older friends…