Drunk Driving Causes

While I have never personally been involved in a crash caused by drunk driving, as a fire fighter I have approached the aftermath of many. The worst drunk driving accident I have witnessed was a car that had rolled three times. The guy flew out the front window leaving deep cuts all over his head. Because he was intoxicated, he tried to get up and move around, oblivious to his injuries or pain. He didn’t even realize he had gotten into an accident. As I watched the scene unfold, it made me angry. I didn’t understand how people could out themselves and others into dangerous or even fatal risks!

Sadly, 50 to 70 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license. On average, two in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime ("11 Facts"). Drunk driving is an issue that can be overcome by putting a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock

Drivers who have a low BAC (blood alcohol concentration) are involved in few fatal crashes. Only a few of the drivers have a higher BAC of .15 but they are the ones that cause the fatal crashes. People with high BAC drivers tend to be male between the ages of 25 to 35 with a history of DWI’s (“Drinking and Driving”). Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the functions of the central nervous system. This causes the normal brain function to be delayed, and the person isn’t able to form physical and mentally normally. It also affects the hand – eye coordination of a person, known as psychomotor skills. The greater amount of alcohol consumed before driving, the more likely the person will be involved in a crash. The skills needed to drive become impaired, like judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, and reaction time (“ Driving while impaired”). Fortunately, car accidents due to drunk driving has dropped dramatically in the last decade, however, there are still far too many