Often, the winter months are filled with parties and other gatherings for people in New Haven, and throughout the U.S. While attending these numerous soirees, some may choose to indulge in libations. This can quickly take an evening of fun and laughter to one of tragedy, however, when people who have been drinking choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. As a result, other motorists and passengers, as well as the drunk drivers themselves, may be seriously injured or, in some cases, killed.
At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., we regularly speak with people who have been injured in accidents involving drunk drivers and are unaware of just how widespread the problem is. In this post, we will discuss the breadth of the drunk driving problem in the U.S. and the reasons why driving while intoxicated can be so dangerous.
Despite increased public awareness of the dangers, people still regularly drive drunk in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults in America self-reported 112 million incidents of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, the CDC reports that approximately 30 people in the U.S. are killed each day as a result of accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers, and many more are injured. The risk of being involved in accidents, which can result in the injury or death of others, can be so great for drivers who have been drinking alcohol because of the effects that alcohol can have on the body.
Consuming alcohol can have a number of effects on people and it can affect different people in different ways. These effects include the following:
Blurred vision
Impaired judgment or decision-making
Decreased coordination and slowed reaction time
Diminished perception
Additionally, people may suffer drowsiness, blackouts, and unconsciousness as a result of having consumed alcohol. All of these effects can be particularly dangerous for drivers, as they may impact the ability of motorists to safely operate their vehicles.
While abstaining from drinking and driving can ensure that people do not cause alcohol-related accidents themselves, it does not guarantee that they will not be involved in one. To learn more, please visit our drunk driving accidents page.
