Myth about Alchohol
- By Lance Winslow
- Published 12/21/2005
- Driving
-
Rating:
A 1995 study for General Motors/Prevention magazine, “Auto Safety in
· Easterners are most likely to drive after drinking; those in the South are least likely to do so.
· Men are twice as likely as women are to drive after drinking. 28% of men admit to this unsafe behavior compared to just 14% of women.
· People aged 30 to 39 years are the most likely to drive after drinking while those over 65 are least likely to do so.
· The more education people have and the higher their annual household income, the more likely they are to drink and drive. College graduates are more than three times as likely to drive after drinking than those without high school diplomas; people with household incomes of $50,000+ drive after drinking at more than double the rate of those with incomes below $15,000.
Alcohol is a drug, a depressant that affects the entire nervous system. Regardless of the drink: beer, wine or distilled spirits, the chief components are ethanol and water. The typical drink contains about three-fourth of an ounce of alcohol - one 12 ounce beer that has 5% alcohol, one 5 ounce glass of table wine that is 12% alcohol, or one shot (1.5 ounce) of 80 proof distilled spirits. All of these drinks have about the same amount of alcohol.
When alcohol is ingested, approximately 5% enters the blood stream directly through the mouth and throat tissues. The largest percentage, approximately 80% is absorbed by the small intestine after passing through the stomach. Alcohol distributes itself throughout organs and tissues in proportion to their fluid content, concentrating more quickly in organs with large blood supplies like the brain and the liver. Alcohol cannot be stored in tissue and less than 10% is eliminated by the kidneys, lungs and skin. Approximately 2 – 5% is passed unchanged through urine, breath and sweat. The liver eliminates the other 90% through the process of oxidation. The liver can eliminate approximately one drink per hour.
Common signs of an impaired driver are:
· Unreasonably high speed
· Inconsistent driving speeds
· Frequent lane changing at excessive speeds
· Improper passing with not enough room to pass, slow driving or excessive swerving when overtaking or passing
· Overshooting or disregarding traffic control signals
· Approaching a signal at unreasonable speed, too fast or too slow
· Stopping or attempting to stop with an uneven motion
· Driving at night without lights
· Failure to dim lights to on-coming traffic
· Jerky starts or stops
· Driving with windows down in cold weather
· Driving with head partly or completely out of the window
If you spot an impaired driver:
· If the driver is ahead of you, maintain a safe following distance. Don’t try to pass because he or she may swerve into you.
· If the driver is behind you, turn right at the nearest intersection and let him or her pass
· If the driver is coming toward you, slow down and move right.
· When approaching an intersection, slow down. Look both ways as you near the corner and be ready to take evasive action.
· Report suspected impaired drivers to the nearest law enforcement agency by cellular phone or CB radio.
· Always wear your safety belt.
If you are hosting a company party:
· If you are serving alcohol, serve food also.
· Make non-alcoholic beverages available for your guests.
· Don’t force drinks on your guests – none for the road.
· Stop serving alcohol about an hour before the party is to end.
· If you have guests who are drinking too much, ask to drive them home, call a cab, take their keys or let them stay overnight. Do not let them drive home.
The illegal BAC in
· Most adults support tough enforcement of drunk driving laws and stiff penalties for those who drive when drunk. Almost two-thirds, 64%, would like to see the minimum age drinking law enforced more vigorously. And 79% support expanded use of police roadblocks or checkpoints to reduce drunk driving.
· Most support more vigorous enforcement of drinking laws is strongest among women, Southerners and people over 50. Not surprisingly, those in states without mandatory safety belt laws, drivers who speed and people who drink and drive are less likely than others to favor more active enforcement.
· 89% of adults support automatic suspension or revocation of a driver’s license for driving when drunk. An identical percentage favor the confiscation of licenses for a repeat offense.