The Real Consequences of Drunk Driving

By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Even if you are not sentenced to any jail time for your DUI conviction, you will probably be given a probation sentence, the terms of which are determined by the sentencing judge. In addition to the guilt and shame you may be feeling, a suspended license may make you feel like a burden as you may have no choice but to lean on friends and loved ones to get from one place to another. Impaired driving is a leading cause of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

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• Any crime committed either qualifies as an infraction, a misdemeanor or a felony, with infractions being the least serious crimes and felonies being the most serious.
• Poor judgment can lead to speeding, running red lights, and other risky driving maneuvers.
• Not only are there legal consequences for drunk driving, but you can injure yourself and others.
• Despite the high volume of drunk driving episodes, only a small percentage of impaired drivers are arrested.
• If you are convicted of a DWI or DUI offense, your insurance rates will likely increase dramatically.

All states have laws setting minimum and maximum fines for drunk driving, but those penalties can be enhanced by other circumstances. In all states, your sentence will include the loss of driving privileges for a period of time, even for a first-time DUI conviction. Some states offer a hardship license that allows you to drive to work or school during the time your license is revoked or suspended, but your driving privileges will still be drastically curtailed. Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 45 minutes.

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These include the availability of alcohol, increases in people experiencing mental health conditions, and challenges in accessing health care. The other 38% were passengers in the vehicle, other drivers and passengers on the road, or pedestrians. These were preventable deaths, as were the 229 children under 14 years old killed in alcohol-related crashes that year. In many cases, even moderate drinking (defined below) appears to increase risk. Despite this, less than half of the US public is aware of any alcohol-cancer connection.

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• Furthermore, alcohol-impaired driving incurs serious, long-lasting consequences for the offending drivers themselves and every innocent person affected by their crimes.
• It is likely you will feel ashamed of your actions and will be treated differently by everybody in your life who hears about the DUI charge.
• Here we take a look at what happens when you get a DUI and what you need to know to ensure you get the help you need.
• During driving, the device may also require additional samples to continue driving.
• A DUI or DWI conviction also creates a criminal record, which can have long-term consequences for employment, housing, and other critical lifestyle opportunities.
• Demand is assessed by the amount of money an individual is willing to pay for alcoholic beverages (Murphy & MacKillop, 2006).

The legal consequences of drunk driving are designed to deter individuals from engaging in this dangerous behaviour and include penalties that can have long-term impacts on one’s life. The emotional and psychological trauma of drunk driving is profound and long-lasting. Families and loved ones left behind experience unimaginable grief, anger, and a sense of injustice. The sudden loss of a loved one due to someone’s irresponsible decision to drink and drive leaves a void that can never be filled.

• Substantial evidence suggests that temporal discounting is disrupted in addiction, and may be a behavioral marker of addiction (Bickel, Koffarnus, Moody, & Wilson, 2014).
• By understanding the risks and taking proactive steps, we can work towards a future where drunk driving is a rare and unacceptable behaviour.
• View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion.
• In this guide, we’ll explore the dangers of drinking and driving, the legal consequences, and how to support a loved one facing a DUI charge.

Make some solid personal rules regarding drinking and driving

It’s difficult to balance, speak, and even hear as well as you normally do. After about three drinks, when your BAC reaches .05%, you may also lose control of small muscles in your eyes. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective.

• There may be serious penalties if you refuse to take a breathalyzer test.
• At a .04 BAC, a person can lose control of small muscles, including focus.
• Assessing the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption remains an active area of research that may lead to major changes in official guidelines or warning labels.
• Individuals must take personal responsibility to prevent drunk driving by making safe and responsible choices.

There is no universally safe number of drinks one can have before driving. Every person is different in terms of how they process alcohol based on biological sex, weight, food intake, level of tolerance to alcohol and other factors. DREs are qualified to offer expert testimony in court that pertains to impaired driving on drugs. Heavy alcohol use impairs brain functions, such as memory and reasoning. Scientists have linked frequent alcohol use to depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and self-harm (e.g., suicide attempts and cutting).

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For example, some people believe that coffee, water, sports drinks, or food can make them less drunk. These things might make you feel less inebriated, but only time can sober you up by lowering your BAC (6). In a 2019 survey from American Addiction Centers, more than half (53%) of survey respondents say they feel capable of driving after drinking. Here, we look at some of the most common reasons drunk driving occurs, according to research, and the steps you can take to prevent yourself from getting Halfway house behind the wheel while impaired.

DUI and DWI Penalties

Impaired driving can cause accidents that lead to paralysis, disfigurement, brain damage, and death. Drinking and consequences of drinking and driving driving not only pose a threat to yourself and others but also incurs additional financial penalties. Besides the cost of bail and legal fees, you may also face fees for towing, vehicle storage, and mandatory DUI training. Your insurance premiums can also increase significantly following a DUI arrest.