Stop Drinking Now - The Question of Drinking and Driving

It's not a question of whether you are legally intoxicated, it's a question of whether or not it is safe to drive when you have consumed any amount of alcohol. Research shows that impairment begins long before a person reaches the blood alcohol concentration level necessary to be guilty of drunken driving.

All 50 states have designated a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 to be the legal limit for drunk driving. Reaching this limit can vary from person to person based on a number of factors such as Size, gender, physical condition, how much you have eaten, how much sleep you have had, if you are taking any medications, and the actual alcohol content of your chosen "drink."

This can equate to the 180 pound male reaching the limit after having a total of four drinks. A 120 pound female can reach this limit after only two drinks.

A "drink" is either one shot of liquor, a five-ounce glass of wine or one beer, all of which contain the same amount of alcohol. Not all "drinks" are alike. Be sure you know the alcohol content of the "drink" that you are having.

These changes may be very subtle and barely noticeable to the person who has had only one drink, but in an emergency situation while behind the wheel of a vehicle, they could cause the driver to react (or not react) as they would without having had a drink.

.05 BAC Level At the .05 BAC level, people begin to exhibit exaggerated behavior, experience loss of small-muscle control -- such as being able to focus their eyes quickly -- have impaired judgment, lowered alertness and a release of inhibition. If someone with a BAC level of .05 gets behind the wheel, they would be operating the vehicle with reduce coordination, a further diminished ability to track moving objects, more difficulty in steering and a markedly reduced response in emergency situations.

If someone behind the wheel with a BAC level of .05 would be operating the vehicle with reduced coordination, a further reduction in ability to follow moving objects, more trouble with steering and a noticeably reduced response in emergency situations.

If someone with a BAC level of .05 gets behind the wheel, they would be operating the vehicle with a further reduction of coordination. The ability to track moving objects would grow harder and there would be more difficulty in steering. The driver would have a markedly reduced response in emergency situations.

For the person who is drinking, the above impairments may be hardly noticeable at the time, but the slow reaction times that they can produce could prove fatal in a emergency driving situation.

That's why it is not a good idea to drive no matter how much or how little that you have had to drink.

You also have to keep in mind that alcohol affects people differently. Some people have a higher response to drinking alcohol than others. People with a higher tolerance to alcohol might not experience signs of impairment at the .05 BAC level that other drinkers experience at the .02 level.

The Safe Limit For this reason, in some states drivers can be arrested for driving while impaired even if their blood alcohol concentration is lower than the legal limit, if the law enforcement officer believes he has probable cause based on the behavior and reactions of the driver. It's simply not a wise choice to get behind the wheel no matter how much you have had to drink. The only safe driving limit is .00 percent.

Learn how to Stop Drinking Alcohol In 21 Days - Guaranteed by expert Ed Philips and find further guidance here to help you Stop Drinking Alcohol.