drunkdrivingreport-blog

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

A DUI (driving under the influence) is a crime involving operating or being in physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DUIs are also known as DWIs (driving while impaired), and OWIs (operating while impaired). Some jurisdictions can charge an individual with a DUI for simply being in physical control of a vehicle, even if that individual is sleeping in a stationary vehicle while intoxicated; however, for the purpose of this report, only DUIs involving a moving vehicle will be considered under the definition of “DUI.” This report will cover drunk driving occurring in America, including the legal definition of drunk driving within individual states, the effects of blood alcohol content (BAC) on drivers, and fatalities caused by drunk driving.

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Since 2005, the vast majority of states in America, including the District of Columbia, have defined drunk driving as driving with a BAC level of 0.08 or higher; however, states are beginning to change this. On December 30, 2018, Utah became the first state to lower the allowed BAC from 0.08 to 0.05 after safety advocates and federal government workers recommended the change years ago. Other states have considered changing the allowed BAC level along with Utah, but none of the proposed measures have been made into laws. Some of these states include New York, Delaware, Hawaii, and Washington. Legislators are expected to reintroduce these proposed laws in 2019 (Bergal).

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The reason drunk driving is illegal is because alcohol is a depressant, which means that it suppresses the speed and general functionality of the central nervous system. While an individual is operating a vehicle, their reaction time and thinking will slow down, making driving extremely dangerous. It does not take the same amount of alcohol for different individuals to become intoxicated; rather, BAC is a scale that depends upon other factors, such as sex, age, weight (“Science”).

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

The BAC level is the degree of intoxication of an individual determined by the amount of alcohol one consumes; the effects from one BAC level to another stack. At a 0.02 BAC level, the effects of alcohol on the body are already beginning to show. Judgment, ability to multitask, and ability to see clearly start to decrease, and other effects such as increased body temperature and increased relaxation occur (Galbicsek). This becomes dangerous while driving specifically due to the decreased ability to multitask as well as the decreased ability to track a moving object (“Science”). Then, at 0.05, decreased effects include coordination and balance, alertness and self-control, small-muscle control and response time (Galbicsek). While driving, a level of 0.05 affects the individual by making it harder to steer (“Science.”) Thirdly, at a BAC of 0.08, the intoxicated person is likely to experience a reduction in reasoning, concentration, speed control, and the ability to process information properly; they may also experience short-term memory loss (Galbicsek). Next, a 0.10 BAC level will bring serious side-effects including worsening coordination and reaction times as well as slurred speech. Driving-wise, a 0.10 BAC level causes a decline in an individual’s ability to brake and keep a vehicle within a certain lane (“Science”). Finally, at a BAC level of 0.15, catastrophe is occurring within the individual: he or she will be experiencing a total lack of muscle control, substantially worse balance, vomiting, and a large decrease in ability to process things audibly and visually (Galbicsek). In terms of driving, the driver has an extreme impairment and will be unable to control the vehicle, pay adequate attention, or be able to process information correctly (“Science”).

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

As a result of these impairments, drunk driving often leads of fatalities; more than 30% of all car accident deaths are due to drunk driving. Most alcohol-related fatalities on the road occur when the driver has a BAC level of 0.14 or higher (Puzo). Of the 27,605 fatal accidents that occurred in 2012, 17,455 did not involve a drunk driver whatsoever, and 646 fatal accidents occurred with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.08 (Van Doren). This means that 10,150 fatal accidents could be attributed to a BAC of higher than 0.08.

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

Not only does drunk driving frequently cause death to the driver, but drunk driving also poses a lethal threat to passengers, other drivers, and people not in a vehicle whatsoever, such as pedestrians or bicyclists. In 2017, 61% of fatalities were the drunk drivers themselves: 14% were passengers, 15% were other drivers, and 11% were nonoccupants. Additionally, 220 children under the age of 14 died due to drunk driving. 54% were passengers of the drunk driver, 32% were passengers from other vehicles, 13% were nonoccupants, and 1% were driving impaired themselves (“Alcohol-Impaired”).

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

In conclusion, a DUI, DWI, or OWI is a serious crime that involves driving while having a BAC of 0.08 or more in most state jurisdictions. Alcohol, a depressant, causes physical and mental impairments to the driver, leading to an individual being unable to drive safely. The BAC level, which varies depending on many different factors, determines the impairment of the driver, and each rising BAC level increases the degree of their impairment. Drunk driving is widespread and can lead to death of drivers, passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.

[drunkdrivingreport-blog]

Annotated Bibliography

Please follow this link to access my annotated bibliography.