Drinking and driving: risks and effects on road safety
Alcohol is a psychotropic drug that negatively influences driving, even in small doses. When a motorist drinks, it affects their psychomotor skills and reduces their ability to make decisions. This increases the risk of traffic accidents. It is one of the most frequent factors contributing to road accidents.
How does alcohol affect driving ability?
Drinking alcohol interferes with almost all the psychophysical abilities necessary for driving. As blood alcohol levels increase, more mistakes are made behind the wheel, and decision-making becomes slower.
Effects on behavior and perception
Alcohol causes behavioral changes, increasing impulsiveness and lowering inhibitions. It also affects perception, alertness and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents.
Altered motor coordination and impaired concentration
Alcohol impairs motor coordination, which can result in clumsy or awkward movements. It also reduces a person’s ability to concentrate, which is crucial for safe driving.
Symptoms according to blood alcohol level
From 0.3 to 0.5 g/l: initial effects
Heightened emotions, reduced mental clarity, and altered distance perception. Symptoms include impaired light perception and visual distortion.
From 0.5 to 0.8 g/l: increased risk
Increased euphoria, loss of motor coordination, vision problems, and balance issues. Concentration begins to suffer, leading to impulsive decision-making.
From 0.8 to 1.5 g/l: significant drunkenness
Slow reflexes, diminished ability to coordinate movements and impaired mental function. Increased impulsivity and aggressiveness.
More than 2.5 g/l: profound drunkenness
Severe mental confusion, blurred vision, loss of control of movements and the possibility of going into a coma due to profound intoxication.
How does the body metabolize alcohol?
Alcohol is distributed evenly throughout the tissues, except body fat. The liver eliminates it, but this process is much slower than the intoxication. Alcohol is eliminated at a rate of 0.15 to 0.20 g/l per hour, which means that, for example, it will take a 70 kg male with a blood alcohol level of 1.2 g/l about 8 hours to eliminate it completely.
Factors that influence blood alcohol level
Blood alcohol level depends on various factors, such as the amount of alcohol ingested, the speed at which it is drunk, the type of drink consumed, whether food has been eaten beforehand, and the personal characteristics of the individual (age, weight, alcohol tolerance).
Individual characteristics that alter blood alcohol levels
Sex, body weight, age and driving experience all play an important role. Younger people and the over 65s are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
Common misconceptions about drinking and driving
There are many misconceptions that could jeopardize road safety, like thinking that a coffee or exercise can reduce your blood alcohol level. The only truly safe level is 0.0 g/l.
Tips for avoiding alcohol-related accidents
The best way to prevent accidents is not to drink and drive. If you are going to drink, it is important to wait several hours before driving or to use alternatives such as public transport or taxis.
How does alcohol impact accident risk?
Alcohol increases the risk of having an accident, even at low blood alcohol levels. At 0.5 g/l, the risk of an accident doubles, and at 0.8 g/l, the risk increases fivefold. It is important to be aware that the effects of alcohol are more dangerous in inexperienced or young drivers.
The role of tolerance and regular drinking
Long-term alcohol consumption significantly impairs driving skills. Although a person with a high alcohol tolerance may appear less affected, their reflexes and motor skills are also impaired in the long term.
Alcohol and interaction with other substances
Mixing alcohol with medication or drugs considerably increases the risks behind the wheel, as it enhances the effects of both substances, affecting perception, concentration and reflexes. It is important to be aware of this danger, as combining alcohol with other substances, whether legal or illegal, can multiply the accident risk. For more details on how alcohol and other drugs affect driving, check out this article on alcohol and drugs behind the wheel.
Alcohol is one of the most significant risk factors when driving, and drinking affects both a person’s ability to drive and their risk of having a serious accident. The only safe level is 0.0 g/l, and it is crucial not to drive after having drunk alcohol. For more information on how to avoid the risks associated with drinking and driving, we invite you to explore other related articles on road safety and healthy habits by Fundación MAPFRE.