Driving while under the influence of alcohol is illegal in every state in the U.S. Unfortunately, however, this fact alone is not enough to prevent people from getting behind the wheel when they are intoxicated and, in doing so, putting other people’s safety – and lives – at risk.
To reveal just how dangerous drunk driving is and why people should avoid doing it at all costs, below, we will reveal some important facts to know about intoxication and how it affects motorists’ abilities.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a drunk driver or any type of driver negligence, however, contact a Denver car accident lawyer at Bell & Pollock for help pursuing justice and financial recovery.
5 Reasons Why Alcohol & Driving Don’t Mix
These details about how alcohol impairs motorists’ abilities can elucidate why drunk driving is so dangerous, a Denver car accident lawyer explains.
When drivers are intoxicated:
- They have problems comprehending their driving environments – In other words, drunk drivers are far more likely to misinterpret traffic signs, be confused by things occurring around them and/or misunderstand changing driving conditions.
- They are far less coordinated – Alcohol impacts people’s motor skills, which can mean that drivers have a far more difficult time properly controlling vehicles and/or even coordinating driving tasks that require two or more simultaneous movements, such as checking blind spots while steering.
- They can’t see or hear as well – In fact, while intoxication can impair depth perception and peripheral vision, resulting in tunnel vision, it can also reduce the clarity of driver’s vision by as much as one-third. Additionally, intoxication can muffle sounds, preventing motorists from being able to hear where sounds are coming from. This can be dangerous when the sounds are important cues that drivers need to understand, such as other vehicles approaching the drunk driver’s car.
- They are more likely to make poor decisions – With intoxication, one of the first things to start slipping is people’s judgment, which typically explains (at least in part) why drunk people end up making the choice to drive (even when they know they probably should not). In fact, poor judgments can start to be made by people with BACs as low as 0.02.
- They won’t react as fast behind the wheel – This is a big problem, as intoxication can slow down drivers’ reaction times by as much as 20 percent.
Are you surprised by any of this info? Post your opinions and thoughts about drunk driving on our Facebook & Google+ pages.
Contact an Experienced Denver Car Accident Lawyer at Bell & Pollock, P.C.
For superior representation in your car accident case, contact the accident lawyers of Denver at Bell & Pollock, P.C. Find out more about how we can help you by calling us at (303) 795-5900 or emailing our firm using the contact form on this page to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers. During this meeting, you will receive clear, honest legal advice about your case, your rights and your best options for moving forward.
From our offices conveniently located in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Steamboat Springs, our lawyers provide the highest quality legal services to injured people throughout the Denver metro area, Arapahoe County, Routt County and the state of Colorado.