Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of traffic-related deaths. 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths in 2021. All these deaths were preventable.
So, why do people drink and drive?
Here are four reasons:
Impaired judgment
Alcohol reduces the brain’s functioning, leading to impaired judgment and poor decision-making. A person with impaired judgment may not tell how drunk they are or how slow their reaction time is. Accordingly, they will get behind the wheel, believing they can drive themselves.
Peer pressure
People who drink with friends are more likely to drive themselves. This is because holding one’s liquor is praised; someone who is drunk may feel pressured to prove they can handle themselves. Therefore, they won’t call a loved one/ a taxi to pick them up.
Misinformation
A lot of misinformation surrounds drunk driving. For example, some people believe they can’t get impaired by drinking beer, hence they can drive. Other myths include drinking coffee/tea helps one sober up, having a glass of water between drinks makes it safe to drive, rolling down the vehicle’s window reverses impairment and so on.
Any amount of alcohol in the body can affect one’s ability to drive. And it takes time to sober up – a driver can’t speed up the process.
False confidence
Alcohol can boost one’s confidence by lowering inhibition. Drunk drivers may believe they can do anything on the road without getting in trouble, especially those who have driven drunk before and didn’t get into an accident or were not stopped by the police.
Drunk driving is dangerous, yet some people do it. If you are injured by a drunk driver, you should learn about your rights and options to receive the compensation you deserve.
