When it comes to drinking and driving, planning ahead can make all the difference in ensuring you and others stay safe. Alcohol affects your ability to make sound decisions, and even just one drink can impair your judgment. Before heading out for a night of drinking, it’s important to think through your transportation options and avoid putting yourself in a situation where you might consider driving under the influence.
How Alcohol Affects Decision-Making
Alcohol impacts the brain in multiple ways, all of which can severely affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely:
- Altered Perception
Alcohol affects how the brain processes information, making it difficult to accurately assess situations like traffic or distance between cars. - Impaired Judgment
When alcohol enters your system, it disrupts the brain’s ability to make sound judgment calls, often leading people to make risky decisions they would normally avoid. - Reduced Concentration
Staying focused becomes much harder after drinking. Simple tasks like paying attention to the road, other vehicles, or pedestrians can become overwhelming. - Impaired Coordination
Driving requires coordination, including steering, braking, and accelerating. Alcohol impairs these motor skills, making it harder to control the vehicle smoothly. - Increased Risk-Taking
Alcohol lowers inhibitions, which can lead to riskier behavior—like running red lights, speeding, or taking unnecessary chances while driving.
The Best Plan: Avoid the Risk
Before you go out, make a plan. Whether it’s designating a sober driver, using a rideshare service, or arranging for a taxi, having a safe ride home ensures that you won’t be tempted to drive under the influence. Making this decision before alcohol affects your judgment is the key to staying safe and avoiding potential legal consequences.
