The dangers of drink driving
Driving is more complicated than many of us realise. Being behind the wheel requires total concentration, good coordination, rapid reflexes, and good judgement. Drinking alcohol diminishes the ability to perform these skills, presenting many risks and potential consequences.
It may be tempting to drive a short way home after a night out or to take a lift from someone who is intoxicated, however, it’s never a safe option and can cause fatal consequences. Of all drink driving fatalities in NSW, 30% occur between 9 pm and 3 am on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights.
Australia has strict laws regarding alcohol and driving, with the legal limit at .05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for full licence holders. Learners and provisionary licence holders must have a .00 BAC. Other licence types may vary.
The effects of alcohol on driving may include:
Reduced ability to judge speed and distance
False sense of confidence and increased tendency to take risks
Reduced co-ordination and concentration
Slower reaction times
Impaired vision and perception of obstacles and reduced hearing - reducing the ability to identify driving hazards
It’s important to note that excessive drinking can mean you still have alcohol in your system the next day and should avoid driving at this time.
Alcohol stays in the body for varying periods of time depending on factors such as age, gender, body type, the period of time when alcohol was consumed, whether it was consumed on an empty stomach or full stomach, and the type of alcohol consumed.
The BAC increases after consuming alcohol and typically continues to rise for up to 2 hours after you stop drinking. Therefore, it’s strongly advised to avoid drinking at all before getting behind the wheel.
As a general guideline, the RACQ outlines how to stay under the legal drinking limit in NSW:
For Males: Up to 2 standard drinks in the first hour, and then 1 standard drink each hour thereafter.
For Females: Up to 1 standard drink in the first hour, and then 1 standard drink each hour thereafter.
If you are going to drink, the safest option is to arrange alternative transport or accommodation ahead of time.
This may be staying at a friend’s place, using public transport or a ride-sharing service such as Uber, or choosing a designated driver beforehand to ensure you and your mates get home safely.
There is no such thing as safe drink driving and it’s never worth the risk.
For more information, visit https://drinkwise.org.au/