Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving

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Chapter 15

• Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving

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Chapter 15 Overview

• Chapter 15 explains effects of alcohol and other
  drugs on driver performance. Laws governing the
  use of alcohol are described. You will also
  learn about how peer pressure might affect their
  decisions about drinking and driving.

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15.1 Effects of Alcohol on Driving Safely

• This section focuses on the effects of alcohol on
  driving safely. Facts about alcohol are
  presented along with information about how
  alcohol affects behavior. Myths and truths about
  alcohol are included.
• Section 1 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Explain how alcohol affects mental and
  physical abilities needed for driving.
• 2. Define blood-alcohol concentration.
• 3. Explain factors that affect blood-alcohol
  concentration.
• 4. List five myths and truths about the use of
  alcohol.

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15.1 Vocabulary

• After the conclusion of this section, I will be
  able to define
• 1. blood-alcohol concentration (BAC)
• 2. designated driver
• 3. euphoria
• 4. inhibitions

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• Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in our
  society today.
• Alcohol is the most frequently found drug in
  fatally injured drivers.
• All states now enforce a minimum drinking age of
  21.
• The effects of alcohol vary from person to
  person. However, everyone who uses alcohol is
  affected by it to some degree. (see chart on p.
  315)

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• Drivers cannot afford to increase the risks of
  driving by having their abilities diminished by
  alcohol.
• Young drinking drivers are involved in fatal
  crashes at twice the rate of drivers aged 21 and
  older.
• Drivers aged 16 20 are more likely to be
  alcohol-impaired than any other age group.
• Nearly half of those killed in alcohol-related
  collisions had not been drinking but were victims
  of drunk drivers.
• More than half of all fatalities during holidays
  are alcohol related.

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Mental Abilities and Alcohol

• Alcohol is depressant, not a stimulant.
• It is absorbed (not digested) directly and
  quickly into the bloodstream and flows quickly to
  the brain.
• Alcohol has the greatest effect on the parts of
  the brain that control judgment and reasoningthe
  two most critical mental skills needed by
  drivers. Physical abilities become impaired soon
  afterward.

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Judgment and Reasoning

• Driver has a false sense of being able to reason
  clearly.
• Euphoria- a false feeling of well-being. People
  in this state of mind may take chances that they
  would not normally take.
• IPDE Process is affected when judgment and
  reasoning abilities are reduced.
• Drivers tend to fixate in a stare and not see
  what is around them.
• Alcohol weakens a persons inhibitions, the inner
  forces that hold back ones impulsive behavior.

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Physical Abilities and Alcohol

• Reaction time slows as it takes the brain longer
  to process information. Alcohol especially
  affects the reflexes and reactions of beginning
  drivers.
• Vision may become impaired.
• Speech may become slurred and less meaningful.
• Death can occur if a large amount of alcohol is
  consumed over a short period of time.

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Alcohol in the Body

• Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)- the amount of
  alcohol in the blood.
• The level of intoxication is determined by the
  of alcohol in the bloodstream.
• What is the legal BAC limit in Missouri?
• Each drink adds about 0.02 0.03 to a persons
  BAC.
• See chart at top of p. 318

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Factors Affecting BAC

• Amount of alcohol consumed.
• Amount of time over which a given amount of
  alcohol is consumed.
• Persons body weight.
• Alcohol is absorbed into the body very quickly
  but is very slow to leave. The type and amount
  of food in the stomach has very little effect on
  the absorption of alcohol.
• The absorption rate is faster when alcohol is
  mixed with carbonated beverages.

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Factors Affecting BAC

• The body rids itself of alcohol at a rate of
  about ¾ of a standard drink an hour.
• It takes the body about 1 ½ hours to rid itself
  of one drink. (3 drinks in an hour would take
  about 4 ½ hours to be oxidized)
• Only time can reduce the bodys BAC and that
  persons degree of impairment.
• See chart at top of p. 319

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Background

• According to the Insurance Institute for Highway
  Safety, the rate of alcohol involvement is low
  for 16-year-old drivers. Only 15 of all 16-year
  old drivers killed in 1996 collisions had BAC
  higher than 0.10. This compares with 32 for
  older teenagers (17-19 years old) and 53 for
  drivers 25-49 years old.

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Myths/Truths About Alcohol

• I can sober up by drinking black coffee, taking a
  cold shower, or doing exercises.
• One little drink wont hurt me.
• I will not be affected because I am only drinking
  beer.
• I can drive better after a few drinks.
• A young person cannot become a problem drinker.

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Reducing Driving Risk

• Have an agreement with parents that if you have
  been drinking and want a ride that you can call
  them without any questions asked at that time.
• Refuse to ride with drivers who have been
  drinking.
• Work to keep others from driving when they have
  been drinking.
• Appoint someone to be a designated driver.

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Review

• 1. How does alcohol affect mental and physical
  abilities needed for driving?
• 2. What is meant by blood-alcohol concentration?
• 3. Describe factors that affect blood-alcohol
  concentration?
• 4. What are three myths about alcohol, and what
  is the truth about each myth?

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15.2 Other Drugs and Driving

• This section focuses on how drugs, including
  over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions drugs,
  and hallucinogens, can affect driving. The
  effects of combining drugs also are addressed.
• Section 2 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Explain the difference between the purchase
  of over-the-counter medicine and the purchase of
  prescription medicine.
• 2. Explain how depressants, stimulants, and
  hallucinogenic drugs affect a driver.
• 3. Describe the effects of combining alcohol
  with other drugs.

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15.2 Vocabulary

• After the conclusion of this section, I will be
  able to define
• 5. depressant
• 6. over-the-counter medicine
• 7. prescription medicine
• 8. stimulant

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Types of Drugs

• Any drug can become dangerous if it is taken in
  excess, combined with other drugs, or otherwise
  misused or abused.
• OTCs- no prescription needed
• Prescription medicine- need a doctors orders
• Depressant- slows down or depresses the central
  nervous system
• Stimulant- can speed up or stimulate the central
  nervous system
• Hallucinogens- unpredictable mind-altering drug
  that can impair judgment, memory, depth
  perception, and coordination.
• Synergistic effect- when other drugs are combined
  with alcohol, the effects of both drugs can be
  multiplied rather than just added together.

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Review

• 1. How does the purchase of over-the-counter
  medicine differ from the purchase of prescription
  medicine?
• 2. How do depressants, stimulants, and
  hallucinogenic drugs affect the driver?
• 3. What is the effect of combining alcohol with
  other drugs?

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15.3 Traffic Laws Governing the Use of Alcohol

• This section introduces you to the traffic laws
  governing the use of alcohol. Topics include
  implied-consent law, levels of intoxication, and
  penalties for conviction. Zero-tolerance laws
  are discussed. Tests for intoxication, including
  chemical and field sobriety tests, are presented.
• Section 3 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Explain what is meant by the implied-consent
  law.
• 2. Describe zero-tolerance levels of
  intoxication, and tell how these levels can be
  measured.
• 3. Explain what a driver should do when stopped
  by a police officer.

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15.3 Vocabulary

• After the conclusion of this section, I will be
  able to define
• 9. driving under the influence (DUI)
• 10. driving while intoxicated
• 11. field sobriety test
• 12. implied consent law
• 13. intoxilyzer
• 14. nystagmus
• 15. zero-tolerance law

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Implied Consent Law

• All 50 states have become uniform in requiring a
  person to be 21 years of age to purchase or
  consume alcoholic beverages.
• Every state has an implied-consent law.
• Implied-consent means anyone who receives a
  drivers license automatically consents to be
  tested for BAC and other drugs if stopped for
  suspicion of drug use while driving.
• If driver fails to cooperate with the officer and
  refuses to be tested for BAC, the drivers
  license may be suspended.

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Levels of Intoxication

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)- 0.08 or higher
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)- less than
  0.08

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Penalties for Conviction

• May be one or more of the following
• Suspension or revocation of license
• Payment of a fine
• Serving a prison term
• The most common penalty is the
• suspension of the license for a period
• of time.
• The penalty is greater if someone is injured
• or killed or if you are a repeat offender.

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Zero-Tolerance Law

• It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to
  drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in
  the blood.
• States have 0.02 BAC or less for drivers under
  the age of 21.
• If states do not comply with this federal law
  they are subject to losing federal highway funds.

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Tests for Intoxication

• Breath test is a widely used and simple analysis.
• Intoxilyzer- machine to measure BAC.
• Field Sobriety Testing- a series of on-the-spot,
  roadside tests that include a variety of
  coordination tests and eye checks. (i.e.,
  horizontal-gaze nystagmus test that checks for
  the involuntary jerking of the eyes as a person
  gazes to the side the divided-attention test
  that checks heel to toe walking and counting the
  number of steps at the same time.)

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• The divided attention test is an especially
  important test that officers use to assess the
  persons balance along with the ability to count
  and follow directions. There is a direct
  correlation between being able to balance, count,
  and follow directionsand the persons ability to
  control a vehicle.

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If You Are Stopped by a Police Officer

• When you see flashing lights pull over to a place
  where it is safe to stop.
• Keep your hands visible as the officer
  approaches.
• Stay in your vehicle and follow the officers
  instructions.
• You will be required to show your drivers
  license and in some cases proof of insurance.

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Review

• 1. What is the implied-consent law for drivers?
• 2. What are zero-tolerance levels for
  intoxication, and how can they be measured?
• 3. What must a driver do when stopped by a
  police officer?

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15.4 Coping with Peer Pressure

• This section addresses peer pressure, both
  positive and negative. The emphasis is on
  understanding peer pressure and learning to make
  responsible decisions.
• Section 4 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Tell how peer pressure might affect ones
  decision about drinking and driving.
• 2. List five steps involved in making a
  responsible decision.
• 3. Explain what is meant by peer education.
• 4. Explain why everyone should share the
  responsibility of preventing friends from
  drinking and driving.

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15.4 Vocabulary

• At the conclusion of this section, I will be able
  to define
• 17. peer education
• 18. peer pressure

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Understanding Peer Pressure

• Peer pressure- influence of others of a similar
  age group
• Positive peer pressure-
• Negative peer pressure-

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Making Responsible Decisions

• 1. Know when a decision is needed.
• 2. Consider the choices.
• 3. Consider the consequences and ask yourself
  these questions
• Is it legal?
• Is it safe?
• What would my parents and other family members
  think?
• Does it show respect for myself and others?
• 4. Decide which choice is best.
• 5. Evaluate your decision to know if it was a
  responsible decision.

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• Friends
• Dont Let
• Friends
• Drive Drunk

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Review

• 1. How might peer pressure affect ones decision
  about drinking and driving?
• 2. What five steps are involved in making a
  responsible decision?
• 3. What is meant by peer education?
• 4. Why should everyone share the responsibility
  of preventing friends from drinking and driving?