Alcohol and other Drugs

Module 7 Objectives: Students will learn how the use of alcohol and other drugs create serious problems for young novice drivers

Topics Covered are:Identify legal, health and economic consequences with the

use of alcohol and other drugs

Discuss the physiological and psychological affects of alcohol and other drugs and their impact on drivers

Learn the consequences of aggressive driving

Analyze the affects of fatigue and other physical conditions that impact drivers

Drinking and Driving

Making good decisions about alcohol and other drugs will save not only your life, but others on the highway.– Having a drivers license is a privilege and

provides a sense of freedom; however, operating a vehicle safely and responsibly begins with you

– Recognize that alcohol is a DRUG—an illegal drug when consumed while driving for everyone

A drug is any substance that changes the way the body or brain works

Drinking and DrivingIt is important that you recognize that a car is a WEAPON—when you mix alcohol and a vehicle, they become a deadly cocktail– In 2000, 21% of drivers between 15-20 years old were

killed in alcohol related crashes—DWI related crashes occur approximately every 23 minutes

There were 11,773 drunk driving deaths in the US in 2008

Drinking and driving are the greatest causes of highway crashes--between 10 pm and 2 am--1 out of every 10 drivers are intoxicated

Marijuana is the second drug most often found in crashes – after alcohol – it affects the driver’s ability to keep the car in the lane

Legal Consequences—Driving and Drinking

Drinking and driving is illegal at any age—a drivers ability is affected by one drink

Every state has a ZERO Tolerance Law—drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or above may lose their license, face criminal charges, or worse run the risk of killing or severely injuring yourself or someone else

When operating a vehicle in NC—you agree to take a chemical test under the implied consent law

A driver can be charged with DWI when drinking alcohol and driving, using prescription drugs and driving, and using over the counter drugs and driving—DWI is a criminal offense

Legal Consequences—Driving and DrinkingDriving ability is affected by:

– Illegal, prescription and over the counter drugs–always read and check with the doctor or pharmacist for side effects

– If your BAC is .08 or more--your license will be automatically suspended for 7 days

A teenage driver with a BAC of .08 -.09 is 40 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a sober teenage driverBAC (blood alcohol concentration) levels as low as .01 will affect judgment, vision, and the ability to predict and make clear decisions

You Get Pulled Over – What To Do

Don't panic--try to just stay calmGet over to the right side of the roadYou will be asked for your driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insuranceStay in your car. If you get out of the car, the cop might see that as a threat– If they think you've been drinking, they may ask

you to take a sobriety test or use a Breathalyzer Just do what you're asked to do

– Don’t cry—this is perceived as weak – Be respectful and patient while they run your

information through the computer– Take the ticket and be on your way--you have the

right to dispute it in traffic court

Physiological/Psychological Effects of Alcohol

Recognize the following factors:– Alcohol is a depressant--it has the same effect as

tranquilizers on the body--when mixed together with driving, they are greater than the effect of each

– A person’s driving ability is affected by one drink– No two individuals are the same when having the

same number of drinks, variables include:

The amount of alcohol consumed can be measured by a chemical test that determines the blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) -- which measures your level of intoxication

Physiological/Psychological Effects of AlcoholConcentration is the percentage of alcohol in relations to the total amount of blood in the bodyThe amount of time the alcohol is consumed—the more you drink in a shorter period, the more concentration the BAC—90% of the alcohol is burned up by your liverBody weight — larger individuals have more blood and other fluids in their bodies—their BAC will be lower than that of smaller individualsGender — women do not process alcohol as well as men--there is a limited production of the enzyme “dehydrogenase” in a woman’s bloodstream– This does not mean that a woman cannot drink as

much--a woman will absorb more alcohol into her blood if she drinks the same volume as a man—it will take longer to remove the alcohol from her blood stream

Facts of Alcohol and other Drugs on Driving Alcohol has both immediate and long term effects on the body– Short term includes impaired judgment,

personality, mood swings, aggressive acts, dizziness, slurred speech, and disturbed sleep

– Long term includes permanent damage to vital organs such as cirrhosis of the liver, damage to the heart, and destruction of brain nerve cells

As a person’s BAC goes up, his/her field of vision is reduced

One of the first things affected by alcohol is a person’s judgment

Facts of Alcohol and other Drugs on Driving

Time is the only effective way to lower the BAC; however, food may reduce the effects of alcohol on the body by coating the lining of the stomachMost medications for colds or allergies will affect your driving abilityAn alcoholic beverage which is 80 proof has 40% alcohol (“proof” is out of 200, so divide it in half to get the percentage)It would take someone with a BAC of .045 approximately 3 hours to eliminate all the alcohol from the bodyWhen comparing alcohol beverages (beer, wine, whiskey), you must know the size of the drink and alcoholic content of the drink

Alcohol and Space Management

Alcohol and other drugs impair your ability – beginning with the first drink– Space management—vision, understanding,

decisions on course of action--your ability to search, evaluate, and execute are impaired

– Coordination may produce a double image– Distance judgment--determining how far objects

are from your path of travel– Peripheral vision—critical vision with driving--lose

the ability to observe potential dangers– Visual Acuity—vision is impaired and blurred– Night Vision—alcohol reduces the control of light

entering the eyes

Causes, Symptoms and Dangers of Fatigue

There are three types of fatigue that may affect your driving ability:– Lack of rest or sleep– Driving long hours—operational fatigue– Personal Circadian Rhythm Fatigue—the body’s

down time

When driving—risk is always present—be aware of everything around you is important and fatigue can dull your senses.

– REST IS THE ONLY SAFE REMEDY FOR FATIGUE

Causes, Symptoms, and Dangers of Fatigue

Avoid long drives unless physically fit—be well rested before starting out

Avoid driving long stretches—make periodic stops

Keep your eyes moving—avoid starring at a fixed position, force your eyes to scan, and use orderly visual search patterns to keep your eyes moving and mind alert

Avoid leaning forward—it will hinder your ability to control your vehicle properly

Let in fresh air—ventilate your vehicle and allow fresh air in the vehicle

Preventing Road RageRoad Rage—is violent anger exhibited when driving– 18-26 year old males are the most common group of

drivers who commit road rageReckless Driving—is any driving threat that endangers life, limb or property, or driving 20 mph or faster than posted speed limitAggressive drivers are reckless drivers who operate a motor vehicle with the intent to annoy, harass, molest, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person– Behaviors of aggressive drivers are: complaining,

rushing, competing, resisting, yelling, cursing, starring, honking, insulting, cutting off, blocking, chasing, fighting, shooting

– Traffic congestion is most often the trigger of aggressive driving—secondary roads have fewer occurrences

– It is never a good idea to use your horn with aggressive drivers

– You can get a ticket for aggressive driving; this is the highest-penalized ticket that you can get!