Approximately 29 people die in crashes caused by impaired driving in the United States every day. Even more are injured. This means that one person dies every 50 minutes because of drinking and driving. More than a third of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Maryland involved impaired driving in some way.
Find out how you can avoid impaired driving and make driving under the influence a thing of the past.
What is Impaired Driving?
Impaired driving is when a person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You do not have to be under the influence of street drugs or controlled substances to be considered an impaired driver. You can be under the influence of medications prescribed by a doctor, like oxycodone or sleeping pills.
What Are the Effects of Alcohol and Driving?
Drugs and alcohol affect your ability to drive a vehicle. Here are the top ways that driving under the influence can impact you:
- Difficulty concentrating on the road
- Difficulty multitasking
- Decreased reaction time
- Lowered ability to make good decisions
Keep in mind that impaired driving doesn’t just affect you as a driver. If you’re a passenger in a vehicle being driven by an impaired person, your life is at risk.
When Is Someone Considered an Impaired Driver?
In Maryland, a person is considered an impaired driver when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. This means that they could be charged with a DUI. If their BAC is less than 0.08 g/dL, drivers could still face the lesser charge of DWI.
What Can I Do to Help Prevent Impaired Driving Fatalities?
There are many other things you can do to keep yourself and others from driving under the influence. Taking action may save your life or the lives of others. See some of these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Volunteer to be the Designated Driver
If you and your friends or family members will be going to a place with alcohol, have a designated driver. If you want to enjoy a drink or two throughout the evening, be sure that you have a sober friend who can serve as a designated driver for you.
Use Car Services
If you find that you’ve gone out and had too much to drink, utilize a driving service or ride-sharing app to get you home safely. You can also call a taxi. In an isolated area where it’s difficult to get a car service? Call a sober friend or family member to take you home.
Open Up Your Home
If a close friend or family member wants to drive under the influence, offer up a spare bedroom or sofa in your home for them to sleep for the night. Be persistent and, if needed, work with others to ensure that your intoxicated loved one does not drive home. If your loved one pushes back, remind them that you care about them.
Talk to Your Teens
No one wants to think that their child would break the law, but the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that, in 2015, 7.7 million young people ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol in the past month. In fact, the CDC estimates that alcohol factors into the deaths of over 4,000 young people under 21 every year.
Equip your teens with the tools they need to prevent intoxicated driving. Explain the consequences of underage drinking and driving, set a good example for them at home, get to know their group of friends, and give your kids the tools to help deal with peer pressure. It may just save their lives.
See Something, Say Something
If you see a driver on the road that you believe is drunk, call 911. This person could be a danger to themselves and others.
