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driving under influence is a problem because people dont feel like theyll get caught, or theyll say "oh, it was just a few sips" but that is enough. or they think they just want to be wreckless because they are suicidal. but DUI can be very bad, because it makes your reactions slower, and impairs your judgement.
even when there are psas about drunk driving, people still do it.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

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Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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one of the top reasons people still drive under the influence is because alcohol and drugs give you confidence and hamper your decision making. they feel as if they are fine and have the confidence to drive. they don't look at it in the way that the are putting others in danger and not just themselves. according to Gordan Atlantic Insurance it is estimated that 1 out of every 2,000 road trips taken in the United States is driven under the influence of alcohol.

In our bodies we have these chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters travel through neurons and synapses in our body to elicit reactions from us. The chemicals in alcohol interfere with proper processing of the other neurotransmitters in the body. This causes signals to not be fully delivered and otherwise messed up. actions and muscle movements that people make are caused by these neurotransmitters.

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https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/. Many reasons go into why people drink and drive. For some people drinking and driving is caused because of misjudging just how intoxicated they are and believe they are fine.  When under the influence your mind is adjusted into a state that can misjudge many things. Another reason as to why people drink and drive is because of financial reasons. Many people decide to drink and drive because of lack of money and are not willing to spend the money on a ride back. People also drive while intoxicated because of the fear of embarrassment. A lot of people wont admit to being "too" drunk because they don't want to feel embarrassed by asking a friend or family to come rescue them. What i believe causes the most amount of DUI's is the confidence that goes into it. The people that drink and drive multiple times, believe they are invisible when it comes to getting caught. Statistics show that only 4,000 out of 300,000 people are arrested for DUI's.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

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Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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People often drink and drive for multiple reasons. The most common reason is Impaired Judgement, which basically means their judgement of situations gets worse as they are more intoxicated. Another common reason is pressure from others or embarrassment. People can drive while intoxicated to prove to others that they're in control. They can also be embarrassed if someone makes fun of them because they don't want to drive, so they do it to prove something to them. Another common reason is for Financial Reasons. People don't want to call an uber to save money, so they drive home themselves. The last common reason is False Sense of Security. People see statistics saying that fewer than 4,000 people are arrested daily, even though people drive while intoxicated nearly 300,000 every day.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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I think that people still drive under the influence, even after all the stories and consequences, because alcohol can give off a false state of confidence to the point where the driver thinks that he or she can drive. That state of mind is extremely unhealthy and uncontrollable especially when there is no one to point out the obviously bad idea. Lots of times people forget how many drinks they have had and think that they are good to go when they aren't. Overall, I think people still drink and drive because they do not have the courage to reach out and get someone to take them home.

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Why do people Drink and Drive?
People drink and drive because while drinking and driving people when they drink and drive they feel confidence and relaxed.  some reason of people drinking is being embarrassed or pressured. Sometime people feel embarrassed and don't know what to do so they drink and they feel more confidence. another reason people drink and drive is being pressured. Mostly your friends pressure you to drink and if you say no here not going to let you go. they would force you to drink. After they get drunk their brain won't function well which would lead them into making poor decisions.

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So many risks can come from driving under the influence but people still choose to do it even when knowing the consequences. Some of the risks that could occur are sever injuries such as paralysis, brain damage, and death. Another risk (for the driver under the influence) is the result of the other drivers. If you cause injury/death for other people you have to live that regret your entire life. You could also face jailtime, drivers license suspension, and vehicle impoundment.

A lot of the time people drive under the influence is due to how impaired they are. From drinking so much alcohol your mind is altered to believe different things, like being able to drive. Peer pressure is also a big reason for this. The driver also might just be embarrassed to admit hoe drunk they are to their friends/family.

https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/drunk-driving/
https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/#:~:text=Impaired%20Judgment%3A%20It%20probably%20won,intoxicated%2C%20your%20mind%20is%20altered.

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Understanding Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence (DUI), or impaired driving, refers to drinking alcohol and then operating a motor vehicle. Motor vehicles are not limited to just cars; this also includes bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts, boats, jet-skis, and lawn mowers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 11,654 Americans were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2020; deaths like these were 30% of all total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States. It is also estimated that 1.5 million people are arrested each year for driving under the influence of alcohol. Impaired driving continues to be a serious traffic safety and public health issue for the entire country.

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It is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to drive with blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher. BAC is the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream. If someone has a BAC at or above the legal limit, they are legally considered impaired. However, it's important to note that critical thinking and fine motor skills begin to drop as early as the first sip of alcohol.

If you know someone struggling with alcohol abuse, there is help available.

Drunk Driving Statistics

Consequences Of Driving Drunk

If someone drives drunk and survives a crash that injures or kills other people, they must live with the consequences. That emotional burden can be worse than any bodily harm.

But the physical perils of drunk driving are immense too. Impaired driving can cause accidents that lead to paralysis, disfigurement, brain damage, and even death.

Impaired driving is also a crime. Drunk drivers often pay significant fines, lose their license, and face higher insurance costs. Common punishments for conviction of a drunken driving-related offense can include:

Driver's license suspension/revocation

Imprisonment

Vehicle impoundment

Vehicle license plate confiscation

Ignition interlock device (IID) restrictions

Alcohol abuse evaluations

Mandatory alcohol abuse treatment programs

Monitored sobriety

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Drunk Driving Dangers

Alcohol's sedating effects impair a driver's decision-making skills and coordination. An impaired driver lacks the ability to quickly and decisively avoid an accident or even perform routine driving maneuvers. Drunk drivers endanger themselves and everyone on the road, increasing the risk of automobile crashes and deaths.

Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes - that's one person every 45 minutes.

- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Impaired driving doesn't just affect those in cars. Drunken motorcyclists, boaters, and jet-skiers are all at risk of causing accidents and injuries.

Drunk driving is as prevalent as it is lethal. According to the US Department of Transportation, nearly 4 million American adults committed an estimated 112 million drunk-driving incidents in 2010 alone. Despite the high volume of drunk driving episodes, only a small percentage of impaired drivers are arrested. There are almost 300,000 drunk driving incidents in America each day. Arrests are made in only 0.013% of these cases.

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Drunk Driving And Addiction Treatment

Drunk driving may be the symptom of an alcohol addiction. Continuing to drink in spite of a DUI conviction or a stint in jail is often a telltale sign of addiction.

If you or someone you care about is battling an alcohol addiction, seek help. Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs are available across the country. Contact a treatment provider to find available treatment options.

Last Edited:

Author

Jeffrey Juergens

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Driving under the influence (DUI), or impaired driving, refers to drinking alcohol and then operating a motor vehicle. Motor vehicles are not limited to just cars; this also includes bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts, boats, jet-skis, and lawn mowers.

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There are a couple reasons why people drink and drive, whether it's because they wanna be wreck-less or they think they are sober enough to drive. Here are some of the most common reasons for drunk driving. It starts off with impaired judgement, when you're intoxicated your mind is altered, you cant think straight. It makes you think differently and this is a big cause for dui's. Most people think they are sober enough to drive so they decide to get behind the wheel.

There's other causes to like pressure and embarrassment. When people go out alone or with others they like to get drunk. Then when it comes time for them to drive they feel the pressure of feeling the need to prove their control over themselves or others. When it comes to people being drunk they don't want to embarrass themselves and admit that they're too drunk to drive. This causes people to drunk drive rather than calling someone. A crazy fact is that fewer than 4000 people are arrested daily for drunk driving yet people drive intoxicated nearly 300,000 every day.

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Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't. You might be quick to dismiss their motivations as selfish or stupid - and sometimes, they are. But there are actually several reasons why people choose to drink and drive. Of course, the reasons behind the decision to drink and drive may not matter much in court; that's why working with an experienced DUI lawyer in Beaverton is so important if you are arrested for these charges. But it may help families and friends to prevent drunk driving if they're better able to understand the thought process behind it.
The Most Common Reasons For Drinking and Driving

Impaired Judgment: It probably won't surprise you to learn that one of the main reasons people choose to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is that they misjudge just how impaired they are. When you're intoxicated, your mind is altered. You may not be able to properly judge your physical limitations or how greatly your thought process has been affected. This may be especially true for young people (who are less-experienced drivers and less-experienced drinkers), but it's also a factor for those who are well above legal age and who have had their licenses for decades.

Pressure or Embarrassment: Sometimes, a person may be inclined to get behind the wheel of a car to prove that they're in control to themselves or others. They might also do so out of embarrassment; no one likes to admit they're too drunk to drive, especially if they have to call a friend or family member to come to their rescue. But unless you want to be faced with hiring DUI attorneys after a crash, this is one time where you should swallow your pride and call for a ride. It's all about your mindset. This situation happens to the best of us, but what doesn't have to happen is a horrific accident wherein you risk your life or the lives of others. Calling an Uber or even a parent is worth the momentary pangs of embarrassment.

Financial Reasons: Some people may not want to pay for a ride home. If you're strapped for cash, that thought may be understandable. But in the long run, the cost of a Lyft or a taxi is far more cost-effective than what you'll pay in legal fees to your DUI lawyer in Beaverton or for the damages you'll have caused. Make it a point to plan ahead for the cost of transportation in the event you're unable to drive. Transfer money into your bank account, take out cash from an ATM, or keep your purchases in-check if you know you'll be too worried about the costs of transportation to make a smart choice when you're under the influence.

False Sense of Security: In addition to impaired judgment, many people also operate under a false sense of security when they choose to drink and drive. There are statistics that show that fewer than 4,000 people are arrested daily for drunk driving, despite the fact that people drive while intoxicated nearly 300,000 every day. People who have driven drunk before without incident may feel especially invincible in this area. But of course, this behavior will end in disaster sooner or later. Whether it's your first time driving while intoxicated or your 10th, any DUI lawyer in Beaverton will tell you that this is a serious offense. Don't choose to do it simply because you think you won't get caught. That high level of confidence may be precisely what ruins the rest of your life.

While we hope that you will never drink and drive, the truth is that we all make mistakes. If you are facing DUI or DUII allegations, it's essential to hire a reputable DUI lawyer in Beaverton to ensure that one mistake doesn't derail your entire future. To find out more, contact us today.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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When people see the news and learn that fewer the 4,000 people are arrested a day for dui, they immediately think they are doing it for selfish reasons, but usually there is more to it it. Some of the overlooked reasons are impaired judgment, pressure, financial situation-meaning they might not have enough money to pay for transport-and lastly false sense of security.

People trust that there are not other out there doing the same as they are, and go drunk driving. They also think that the drinks they have had won't affect them and they will be fine, but in most cases they are bluffing. There are lots of things to think about when faced with the chance of drunk driving, but it's better to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute.

https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the reasons why people still drive under the influence even though they know the consequences is because being under the influence impairs your judgment, therefore you have a harder time making smart decisions. A blood-alcohol level below 0.8 can impair you and it affects your decisions, which is why drivers tend drive under the influence when they are already under the influence. More specifically, drinking alcohol makes you unable to accurately determine your physical boundaries, which can make it harder to drive. This is made even more of a problem if you are underage and therefore unexperienced at driving. However, drunk driving is done by both younger and more unexperienced drivers as well as older and more experienced drivers.

Source #1: https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/#:~:text=Impaired%20Judgment%3A%20It%20probably%20won,intoxicated%2C%20your%20mind%20is%20altered.

Source #2: https://fnrlaw.com/why-drive-drunk-impaired/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't. You might be quick to dismiss their motivations as selfish or stupid - and sometimes, they are. But there are actually several reasons why people choose to drink and drive. Of course, the reasons behind the decision to drink and drive may not matter much in court; that's why working with an experienced DUI lawyer in Beaverton is so important if you are arrested for these charges. But it may help families and friends to prevent drunk driving if they're better able to understand the thought process behind it.
The Most Common Reasons For Drinking and Driving

Impaired Judgment: It probably won't surprise you to learn that one of the main reasons people choose to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is that they misjudge just how impaired they are. When you're intoxicated, your mind is altered. You may not be able to properly judge your physical limitations or how greatly your thought process has been affected. This may be especially true for young people (who are less-experienced drivers and less-experienced drinkers), but it's also a factor for those who are well above legal age and who have had their licenses for decades.

Pressure or Embarrassment: Sometimes, a person may be inclined to get behind the wheel of a car to prove that they're in control to themselves or others. They might also do so out of embarrassment; no one likes to admit they're too drunk to drive, especially if they have to call a friend or family member to come to their rescue. But unless you want to be faced with hiring DUI attorneys after a crash, this is one time where you should swallow your pride and call for a ride. It's all about your mindset. This situation happens to the best of us, but what doesn't have to happen is a horrific accident wherein you risk your life or the lives of others. Calling an Uber or even a parent is worth the momentary pangs of embarrassment.

Financial Reasons: Some people may not want to pay for a ride home. If you're strapped for cash, that thought may be understandable. But in the long run, the cost of a Lyft or a taxi is far more cost-effective than what you'll pay in legal fees to your DUI lawyer in Beaverton or for the damages you'll have caused. Make it a point to plan ahead for the cost of transportation in the event you're unable to drive. Transfer money into your bank account, take out cash from an ATM, or keep your purchases in-check if you know you'll be too worried about the costs of transportation to make a smart choice when you're under the influence.

False Sense of Security: In addition to impaired judgment, many people also operate under a false sense of security when they choose to drink and drive. There are statistics that show that fewer than 4,000 people are arrested daily for drunk driving, despite the fact that people drive while intoxicated nearly 300,000 every day. People who have driven drunk before without incident may feel especially invincible in this area. But of course, this behavior will end in disaster sooner or later. Whether it's your first time driving while intoxicated or your 10th, any DUI lawyer in Beaverton will tell you that this is a serious offense. Don't choose to do it simply because you think you won't get caught. That high level of confidence may be precisely what ruins the rest of your life.

While we hope that you will never drink and drive, the truth is that we all make mistakes. If you are facing DUI or DUII allegations, it's essential to hire a reputable DUI lawyer in Beaverton to ensure that one mistake doesn't derail your entire future. To find out more, contact us today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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In my opinion, the embarrassment of asking for a ride from a friend definitely makes people drive home themselves due to embarrassment. And i would also say that being under the influence makes you have a false sense of relaxation and confidence. I also discovered that people apparently say they don't have another way to return home. Sometimes, a person may be inclined to get behind the wheel of a car to prove that they’re in control to themselves or others.

https://junkee.com/why-the-hell-do-young-people-still-drink-and-drive/143796

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The most common reason for DUIs is impaired judgement. People think they're less intoxicated then they actually are, since they're unable to judge physical limitations while drunk. More common among new drivers.

Another cause of DUIs is pressure or embarrassment. Sometimes people will want to drive to prove they're in control of what they're doing even though their mind is altered. Can also be caused by social pressures, not wanting to admit they're to drunk to drive.

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People still drive under the influence due to a handful of reasons. Firstly, although a person knows they've drunk, they're not aware that they're too impaired to drive. This lack of awareness can occur because of alcohol, which impairs your judgment and make you feel more confident. This overconfidence can lead you to believe that you can DUI. Some drivers are also not aware that even prescription drugs can impair your driving skills. OTC drugs like antidepressants, valium, and sleeping pills can impair your driving. Another reason people DUI is because of pressure or embarrassment. After parties, one may feel pressured by others to take the role of driving because they promised them earlier. Or, one could be too embarrassed to admit that they're drunk.

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People may still drive under the influence even though they know the risks and dangers because a lot of the times they think that they are "fine" to drive. People will have a few drinks and not have a ride home so they think that they are fine to drive when in reality they should not be driving a car period. Another thing that goes along with this is peer pressure. When your under the influence your more susceptible to give in to what your peers are saying. And one more thing to go on top of this is that when your friends are saying this stuff to you, it gives you a big confidence boost. This will most likely boost your adrenaline and you'll start to think you can do stuff that you wouldn't even be able to do sober. This is what then leads to most DUI incidents when people get severely hurt or even killed.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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There is a wide range of risks that come with driving under the influence. First, alcohol impacts your vision, as after someone has been drinking, their vision may become blurred, making it difficult to judge distance and see objects on or near the road. Someone who is driving while drunk may also experience lack of coordination, as alcohol affects motor skills. Concentration can also be impaired because attention span is reduced with drinking, also affecting judgement. All of these combined make it difficult to be fully aware of your surroundings and slow your reaction time. These effects can lead to causing an accident or highway injury.
Even with all of these risks, and the consequences that come with driving under the influence, people continue to do so. One of the various reasons that people drive while drunk is that they do not think they are as intoxicated as the truly are. Also, as someone consumes more alcohol, they become more confident, and may believe they can do something that the usually would not do.

https://safer-america.com/risks-driving-influence/
https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/crimes/dui/

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There are many reasons why people drive under the influence. One of the main reasons is when they start drinking they misjudge how impaired they are. When your intoxicated your confidence boosts making you feel like you will be just fine driving. When you actually get on the road you are not only harming you but any other car around you. There are many fatal accidents from driving under the influence.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't. You might be quick to dismiss their motivations as selfish or stupid - and sometimes, they are. But there are actually several reasons why people choose to drink and drive. Of course, the reasons behind the decision to drink and drive may not matter much in court; that's why working with an experienced DUI lawyer in Beaverton is so important if you are arrested for these charges. But it may help families and friends to prevent drunk driving if they're better able to understand the thought process behind it.
The Most Common Reasons For Drinking and Driving

Impaired Judgment: It probably won't surprise you to learn that one of the main reasons people choose to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is that they misjudge just how impaired they are. When you're intoxicated, your mind is altered. You may not be able to properly judge your physical limitations or how greatly your thought process has been affected. This may be especially true for young people (who are less-experienced drivers and less-experienced drinkers), but it's also a factor for those who are well above legal age and who have had their licenses for decades.

Pressure or Embarrassment: Sometimes, a person may be inclined to get behind the wheel of a car to prove that they're in control to themselves or others. They might also do so out of embarrassment; no one likes to admit they're too drunk to drive, especially if they have to call a friend or family member to come to their rescue. But unless you want to be faced with hiring DUI attorneys after a crash, this is one time where you should swallow your pride and call for a ride. It's all about your mindset. This situation happens to the best of us, but what doesn't have to happen is a horrific accident wherein you risk your life or the lives of others. Calling an Uber or even a parent is worth the momentary pangs of embarrassment.

Financial Reasons: Some people may not want to pay for a ride home. If you're strapped for cash, that thought may be understandable. But in the long run, the cost of a Lyft or a taxi is far more cost-effective than what you'll pay in legal fees to your DUI lawyer in Beaverton or for the damages you'll have caused. Make it a point to plan ahead for the cost of transportation in the event you're unable to drive. Transfer money into your bank account, take out cash from an ATM, or keep your purchases in-check if you know you'll be too worried about the costs of transportation to make a smart choice when you're under the influence.

False Sense of Security: In addition to impaired judgment, many people also operate under a false sense of security when they choose to drink and drive. There are statistics that show that fewer than 4,000 people are arrested daily for drunk driving, despite the fact that people drive while intoxicated nearly 300,000 every day. People who have driven drunk before without incident may feel especially invincible in this area. But of course, this behavior will end in disaster sooner or later. Whether it's your first time driving while intoxicated or your 10th, any DUI lawyer in Beaverton will tell you that this is a serious offense. Don't choose to do it simply because you think you won't get caught. That high level of confidence may be precisely what ruins the rest of your life.

While we hope that you will never drink and drive, the truth is that we all make mistakes. If you are facing DUI or DUII allegations, it's essential to hire a reputable DUI lawyer in Beaverton to ensure that one mistake doesn't derail your entire future. To find out more, contact us today.

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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Why do people still drive under the influence, even though they know the risks and dangers? There are a lot of people that drive while intoxicated, but there are reasons for that. Some of the reasons are impaired judgment and pressure.
Impaired judgment is when people misread how intoxicated they actually are, in easier terms, it means they thing that they are fine but in reality they are not. Another reason is pressure, when you are out with friends and have your car, sometimes you get pressured by your friends to drive home because they say your fine.

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Drinking and driving affects you and everyone around you. It causes poor judgement and decision making, both important tools needed to drive. It also causes slow reaction time and lack of coordination. All of these changes makes the chance of getting in a car crash much more likely than driving sober. All of these are risks of driving under the influence.

Even though people know and are aware of these risks, they still drive drunk. There are many reasons for this. Although 0.08 percent is the legal limit to drive in the US, percentages below this can cause accidents as well, so while it would technically be legal, people have a false sense of safety then get in accidents. Another reason people drive drunk is from the adrenaline rush or self confidence that drinking brings to them.
https://johnsonlawfirm.net/reasons-people-drink-and-drive/

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Every day, many people drink and drive without seeing the harm it can cause. But does making it home safely or "getting away with it" make driving drunk a good decision?

No, it does not.

Choosing to drive yourself home when you are impaired by alcohol is putting not only your own life at risk but also those of anyone else on the road while you are driving.

And while 0.08 percent is the legal limit to drive in the United States, lower BAC levels can also impact your driving ability, meaning the best way to play it totally safe is to not drive if you've had anything to drink at all. Regardless of how well you can handle your alcohol, the fact is that if you drive with alcohol in your system, you are at a heightened risk for causing an accident, injury, and even death.

Alcohol has a substantial effect on a person's judgment, coordination, reaction time, concentration, and vision, each of which you might imagine is pretty important when driving a car. The effect of alcohol on these skills puts you and others in danger of something bad happening.

In this post, we're going to take a hard look at why drinking and driving is dangerous, to hopefully help motivate anyone reading to not get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.

5 Dangers of Drinking and Driving

1. Poor Judgment & Decision Making

As you might have heard before, alcohol plays a huge role in clouding judgement. Alcohol can impair your judgment to the point that you make bad decisions that you would not otherwise make, and would regret in the morning or when you sober up.

For example, when intoxicated, you may choose to drive home well beyond the legal drinking limit, or when you know you are feeling drunk and should not be getting behind the wheel. But the forces of wanting your own bed, not wanting to wait or pay for a ride, or the old adage of being "just around the corner" outweigh the smart and safe decision, so you get behind the wheel. This is a risky choice that puts you and others in danger, both legally and from physical harm caused by operating a motor vehicle when impaired.

Your loss of judgment when intoxicated can also leave you more prone to distraction when driving. You might try to text or watch something on your phone rather than focus on the road.

Even just a little bit of alcohol can influence your judgment and concentration, but there are so many things that need your undivided attention when driving that it isn't worth the risk. You need to be able to stay in your lane, manage your speed, give the proper space and attention to other cars on the road, and obey traffic signals. Alcohol will significantly increase your chances of having an accident because of how much it can reduce your attention span.

Your judgment skills also play a big role in driving. You have to be able to judge distance needed to stop in time, or to make a turn without hitting anything. You have to be able to foresee and react to problems that may arise on the road, such as being cut off, encountering a sudden change in weather, or avoiding large pieces of debris in the road. Having a clear head helps your judgment by keeping you alert and aware of the conditions around you. Alcohol will impair this ability.

2. Slowed Reaction Time & Lack of Coordination

Having alcohol in your system will cause your body to react more slowly to certain situations. Since your reaction time is slowed, it will increase the likelihood of an accident because you won't be able to respond to something happening as quickly as you would if you were sober. For instance, if someone stops short in front of you or cuts you off, you may run into the back of them rather than being able to think fast, brake, and avoid an accident.

Likewise, you may not be able to react in time to an animal running into the road, or worse, a pedestrian. A brain under the influence of alcohol will take longer to process the situation and react. This is compounded by the fact that alcohol makes you more susceptible to distracted driving.

Not only will you have slower reflexes, but being under the influence of alcohol will also affect motor skills such as your hand, eye, and foot coordination. These coordination skills are incredibly crucial for being able to safely drive a car, and if they are impaired, you will be putting yourself and others in danger.

You can tell your coordination has been impaired if you can't seem to stand up straight, sway when standing, or have any difficulty when walking. You may even have a tough time getting into the car or putting your keys into the ignition. If your impairment has reached this level, you definitely should not be driving a car.

3. Decreased Vision

Being able to see clearly is massively important when driving, and excessive alcohol consumption can cause problems with your vision. Drinking may cause your vision to blur, or cause your eyes to move on their own. You may even partially lose control over your eye movement. This vision impairment can influence how you are able to judge the distance between your car and other vehicles or objects on the road.

You may even lose your peripheral vision, which plays a very important role in safe driving. In general, the more you've had to drink, the more impaired your vision may be. If you notice your vision is blurred, cloudy, or are having any eye-related issues during a night of drinking, do not get behind the wheel.

4. Increased Likelihood of Having an Accident

While traffic fatalities have been on the decline in recent years, there are still about 10,000 deaths caused by alcohol-related crashes each year in the United States. According to the CDC , alcohol plays a role in roughly one in every three motor vehicle deaths in this country.

While there are numerous warnings out there as well as raised education and public awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving, people are still getting behind the wheel of their cars while drunk, even in the face of stiffer penalties for doing so. Although drunk driving overall is down, it is still happening, and the thing is, even those on the road driving sober are at risk when there is someone out there driving impaired.

In the U.S., motor vehicle deaths are the leading killer of people under the age of 24, whether they are a driver or passenger. Alcohol is a factor in almost half of these fatal accidents.

All this goes to show that someone who is driving under the influence of alcohol is much more likely to cause an accident than someone who is not, although the sober person might get tangled up in the drunk driver's wreck. The data also shows that the more alcohol you have in your system, the more likely you are to have an accident.

Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 percent or higher are seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident than a driver who is sober. A driver with a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher raise their risk to a staggering 25 times more likely. And while these statistics show the inherent danger of driving well beyond the legal drinking limit, even being at, or below, this set limit does not mean you are in the clear.

Someone who has had a couple beers within an hour will have a BAC far below the 0.08 legal limit. However, they are still 1.4 times more likely to have an accident than a sober driver. This is because impairment begins long before a person reaches the 0.08 percent level. These skills can begin to deteriorate as soon as the person starts drinking, at levels as low as 0.02 BAC.

Even a BAC this low can lead to visual impairment and impaired judgment, which are two key factors in causing accidents. A person with a BAC this low will also have a declined ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time, a skill often needed while driving.

Therefore, having a legal limit for drunk driving of 0.08 percent creates a problem, because it sends the incorrect message that if you aren't legally drunk, you are fine to drive. However, for many, this is not the case, and whether or not you are safe to drive depends on a number of individual factors.

In general, no one, regardless of their tolerance, should drive after consuming alcohol. This is the only way to protect yourself from the consequences of drinking and driving.

5. Potential Legal Ramifications of Drinking & Driving

As if being more at risk of causing death to yourself and others wasn't enough, anyone who chooses to drink and drive is also putting themselves at risk for serious legal consequences.

If you are pulled over on the suspicion of impaired driving, the officer will ask you to perform field sobriety tests. If you fail these tests, which judge your motor skills and judgment, you may then be asked to perform a BAC test, usually with a breathalyzer. If you fail this test, you will be sent to the local precinct for a night in jail, and be charged with a DUI or DWI.

All states have increased the penalties for these infractions, and all violators will be arrested and charged accordingly. But what's the difference between a DUI and DWI?

A DUI refers to "driving under the influence" of alcohol or drugs - in our case, alcohol. This is a crime that police can charge you with if they suspect that your driving is impaired and you fail a field sobriety test, as well as having a BAC over the legal state limit. You will then be prosecuted accordingly, with the first offense typically resulting in the loss of your license for a year, and requires your attendance in an alcohol abuse program, as well as probation.

Those with multiple DUI offenses will be prosecuted to the fullest ability of the law, varying by each state. These penalties will be much worse if you cause an accident while drunk, especially if there are any injuries or fatalities.

A DWI, or driving while intoxicated, refers to a crime police may charge you with if they suspect you are drunk. Just like a DUI, suspects will be given a field sobriety and breathalyzer test. The procedure and findings are the same; however, the main difference is that a DWI comes with much stiffer penalties. A DWI may result in jail time, loss of driver's license for a lengthy period of time, and mandatory alcohol treatment programs.

Beyond the legal penalties, offenders will also be subject to substantial financial penalties. These costs may include towing and storage fees, legal fines, and attorneys fees. You may also be required to pay for DUI driver training on your own, and as a result of your DWI or DUI arrest, your insurance fees will skyrocket.

Beyond these consequences, you will also have to report your DUI or DWI on any job application that requests the information, and could possibly be unable to rent a car. You may also be denied entry into some other countries because of your alcohol-related conviction as well.

All in all, the dangers of drinking and driving far outweigh the reward of chancing that you'll get home safely. Safely driving a car is difficult even when you are sober, but adding alcohol into the mix is putting your life and the lives of others on the road at risk. Make sure you make the right choice and don't attempt to drive drunk.

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5 Dangers of Drinking and Driving | Low Cost Interlock

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Every day, many people drink and drive without seeing the harm it can cause. But does making it home safely or "getting away with it" make driving drunk a good decision? No, it does not.

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When driving under the influence there are several risks involved. Being under the influence can affect you vision, reaction time, decision making, and lack of coordination. All of these factors increase your risk of driving recklessly or getting into an accident. When under the influence it can become hard to track moving objects and do two different things at once which are key components to driving safely.

The are also many reasons that people may drive under the influence while being aware of the risks and dangers. Consuming alcohol alters the persons state of mind and perception. They may believe that they are fine to drive even when they are not. Alcohol consumption also creates a false sense of relaxation and confidence. Inability to judge physical limitations due to alcohol consumption can also affect the drivers decision. Embarrassment about being intoxicated and having to ask for a ride home is also a main factor.

Sources:
https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/crimes/dui/
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/index.html

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People may still drive under the influence due to addiction, peer pressure, fear, etc.. more than 10,000 lives are lost as a result of drunk driving a year. The NHTSA say that factors like age, gender, prior convictions, and location all play a part in the statistic of drunk driving. Another factor of drinking and riving is that being drunk provides a false sense of confidence, relaxation, and ability to do simple tasks. Another factor that plays into this is peer pressure from other. Trying to fit in you may put yourself and others in danger. Major factors of why DUI's are so common are pressure and a false sense of judment/confidence.
https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/
https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/drunk-driving/

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

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Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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People tend to drive under the influence because drinking gives them a false sense of relaxation and confidence. And, people who have been drinking have impaired judgement and have poor decision making. Another reason people tend to drink and drive because of the "embarrassment" of have to ask for a ride. Also, the factor of the person being unable to remember how many drinks they have had. So, the combination of not having a ride, not in the right mind, and poor decision making.

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DUI is a crime that transcends age, race, gender, and lifestyle.

Whereas the typical profile of drunk drivers used to be binge-drinking men between the ages of 21 and 35, today there is no one single type of person who drives under the influence. People from all walks of life - men and women, young and old, professions ranging from blue collar workers to housewives and congressmen - have been charged with DUI.

According to the Sourcebook Of Criminal Justice Statistics Online, there were 4,208 DUI arrests in Illinois and 1,039,551 DUI arrests across the United States. Of these DUI arrests, 86% (or approx. 3,618) of impaired drivers were first-time offenders.

You might wonder, why do so many people take a chance and drive after drinking?

Drivers are not aware that they are too impaired to drive safely

Drivers may know they have a "buzz," but think they can still drive safely

Drivers may feel more confident or even invincible after drinking

The belief that they won't get caught

The belief that "everybody does it, so it's no big deal"

To avoid leaving their car overnight in an unfamiliar or distant location

The need to get somewhere or be somewhere on time

Young drivers may be hesitant to ask parents for rides in a drinking situation

Believing that there are quick ways to sober up: drinking black coffee, taking a cold shower, getting fresh air, exercising, eating after drinking, drinking lost water

But perhaps the biggest reason for the high incidence of DUI is the fact that even a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) well below .08 still affects judgment. People who have been drinking (or are under the influence of drugs) have impaired judgment and make poor decisions, such as driving while under the influence.

Impairing Effects Of Drugs On Driving

Many people don't realize or underestimate to what extent drugs - whether OTC (over-the-counter), prescription or illegal drugs - may impair their ability to drive. They may not realize that certain cold remedies, painkillers and muscle relaxants may be just as debilitating as alcohol, if not more so. This is also true of people who use recreational drugs such as marijuana. But no matter the source, drivers who demonstrate impairment may be arrested and charged with DUI.

Impairing Effects of Various Illegal Drugs

Marijuana:Relaxation, euphoria, disorientation, altered time and space perception, drowsiness, paranoia, image distortion, increased heart rate.

Cocaine:Euphoria, excitation, dizziness, increased focus and alertness (initially), confusion and disoriented behavior, irritability, paranoia, aggressiveness, increased heart rate.

Methamphetamine:Euphoria, excitation, hallucinations, delusions, insomnia, poor impulse control, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure.

Morphine & Heroin:Intense euphoria, drowsiness, relaxation, sedation, disconnectedness, mental clouding, analgesia, depressed heart rate, nausea and vomiting, diminished reflexes.

LSD:Hallucinations, altered mental state, delusions, impaired depth, time and space perception, hypertension, tremors.

Source: dui.findlaw.com

Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs

Antidepressants: Some sedating antidepressants cause impairment similar to drunk driving.

Valium: 10 mg of the popular tranquilizer can cause impairment similar to having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent.

Antihistamines: Many of them slow reaction time and impair coordination.

Decongestants: Many over-the-counter decongestants can cause drowsiness, anxiety and dizziness.

Sleeping Pills: Even in the morning, the residual effects of these drugs can impair drivers.

Hydrocodone: This common pain reliever, the main component of Vicodin, is similar to opiates and causes impairment similar to morphine and codeine (oxycodone has similar effects).

Source: dui.findlaw.com

WAYS TO PREVENT DRINKING AND DRIVING

MADD(Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) suggests the following in order to reduce and prevent drinking and driving:

When Drinking Alcohol

Choose a designated driver. Decide who's going to be doing the driving before you go out, and make sure that person doesn't drink any alcoholic beverages.

Arrange an alternate way to get home safely. Sometimes even the designated driver slips. If nobody in your group is sober, take alternate transportation. Cab, train, bus - anything's better than getting in the car with a drunk driver.

When Throwing a Party

Offer non-alcoholic beverages. Water, juice, soda - give your guests plenty of alternatives. And never pressure guests to drink alcohol.

Serve plenty of food. A full stomach can slow the rate of alcohol absorption. Serve a great meal or have plenty of appetizers on hand.

Stop serving alcohol well before the party ends. Give your guests an extra hour or two without alcohol before they head out the door.

Arrange alternate transportation. Pay attention to your guests' alcohol intake and behavior. If someone has had a lot to drink or seems even the slightest bit tipsy, call a cab or set up a ride with a sober driver.

Hide keys. Don't be afraid to take someone's car keys. If the person gets angry, it's probably proof you're doing the right thing.

Never serve minors. If you knowingly serve alcohol to minors under the age of 21, or if a minor leaves the property intoxicated, you may be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. If a minor who you served causes an alcohol-related death, you may be charged with a Class 4 Felony.

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Whereas the typical profile of drunk drivers used to be binge-drinking men between the ages of 21 and 35, today there is no one single type of person who drives under the influence. People from all walks of life - men and women, young and old, professions ranging from blue collar workers to housewives and congressmen - have been charged with DUI.

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A primary reason people drive under the influence is the impaired judgement people come under when they are intoxicated. People misjudge how heavily intoxicated they are, leading them to driving without fully understanding their abilities and limits. This problem is worse among young people who have less experience being intoxicated and thus have less understanding of their circumstances.

Another reason people drive under the influence is financial reasons. A lift or Uber late at night can cost upwards of $20-30 even if its a short distance, a far more expensive trip than if one were to drive themselves. A lawyer however costs much more, so the idea of driving yourself being cheaper is in the long, run not true.

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DUI's still kill hundreds of people a day and hundreds still get arrested for it every day. Even though it seems every where you look there is a PSA about them. Some of the dangers that come with drinking and driving are slowed reaction timing, improper operation and inability to control the vehicle. After all the deaths and PSAs about DUIs why do people still do it? Well one of the reason and what i think is the biggest is Alcohol itself. When you drink alcohol it boost your confidence and impairs your judgement. This is what i think is the main reason DUIs occur.

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People often still drive under the influence even though we are all taught not to. One reason why people drink and drive is because when drinking they have a false sense of relaxation or confidence. Sometimes people are unable to judge their impairments due to alcohol. A reason we may not think of often is being embarrassed or ashamed to ask for a ride so instead someone will drive home thinking they will be alright. Alcohol can also reduce ones ability to know how drunk they are. Often times people are being reckless and don't comprehend what exactly they are doing.
Some statistics on DUI's can help us to realize how harmful and dangerous it can be. Drinking and driving kills 28 people a day (one person every 52 minutes). 10,000 lives are lost annually because of drinking and driving. The highest number of crashes caused by drunk driving are from people between the ages of 21-24.
https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/drunk-driving/#stats
https://www.ignitioninterlockhelp.com/blog/common-reasons-people-drink-drive/

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The risks of DUIs are innumerable. The main cause is alcohol but other substances can be substituted. The main issues with DUI's are the fact that when people are drunk, sometimes that won't admit to themselves or others that they are drunk. When you are drunk, you become vulnerable and unable to think clearly. Not to mention that your center of balance is off, so driving is one of the most dangerous things to do. I think what causes DUIs is the feeling of being left out. When someone who is the DD feels left out because they can't drink, they will have a few too many shots or whatever, now everyone in the vehicle is in danger not to mention everyone else who is driving on the road.

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Drunk driving kills over 10,000 people per year. 27% of deaths from a drunk driving crash are between the ages of 21-24. They could be easily prevented by not driving. Death, as well as substantial fines from the government are why drunk driving has so many risks. People will drive under influence because they will falsely reassure themselves that they are not unable to drive. They will downplay the amount of alcohol they have dunk or will establish confidence as a result of the alcohol. Downplaying how drunk you are and downplaying the risks are reasons that people will still drunk drive.

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2022 Drunk Driving Statistics | Bankrate

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Alcohol has long been known as a roadway killer. It can start with a single drink, but then there’s the thought of just one more, and all too quickly, reason and responsibility are abandoned. All it takes is a split-second delay in reaction, and the consequences of driving drunk can be utterly life-…

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People drive under the influence despite knowing the risks for several reasons. Two main reasons are that the driver has no other way to return home and that alcohol consumption is often associated with meals. Several other causes are that the driver is not aware that they are too impaired to drive, that they believe they would not be caught, and that drivers may feel overconfident as a result of alcohol consumption.

References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4359384/#:~:text=It%20is%20noted%20that%20the,such%20as%20sex%20and%20age.

https://fnrlaw.com/why-drive-drunk-impaired/

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Abstract

Keywords: Drivers, Road safety, Driving while intoxicated, Driving under the influence, Alcohol

Background

In Europe, traffic accidents are one of the main causes of mortality in people between 15 and 29 years old, and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is a major risk factor in most crashes [ 1, 2].

In the year 2001 in Spain, 40,174 people were treated in public hospitals for traffic injuries. Some 28% of these injuries were serious or very serious and drinking was involved in a high percentage of cases. According to the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), alcohol is involved in 30-50% of fatal accidents and in 15 to 35% of crashes causing serious injury, constituting a major risk factor in traffic accidents. This problem is especially important among young people and worsens on weekend nights [ 3, 4].

In more recent years, several studies have shown that more than a third of adults and half of teenagers admit they have driven drunk. We also know that most of them were not detected. Generally, the rate of arrests for driving under the influence is very low and even those drivers who were arrested were mostly "first-time" offenders [ 5].

Some studies show that many young people lack information or knowledge about the legislation regulating consumption of alcohol for drivers, as well as the effects of this drug on the user [ 6- 8].

There are also some widespread beliefs and misconceptions regarding the actions the driver can take in order to neutralize the effects of alcohol before driving (for instance drinking coffee, having a cold shower or breathing fresh air). As suggested by Becker's model of health beliefs [ 9, 10], preventive behavior is unlikely to occur unless the subject considers the action necessary, hence the importance of providing adequate information and disproving false beliefs.

Drivers are not usually aware of the risk they assume when they drive under the influence of alcohol, as they do not suffer a traffic accident every time they drink and drive. Hence they tend to think there is no danger in driving under the influence of alcohol, incurring the same risk behavior once and again.

But the reality is quite different. Alcohol causes very obvious alterations in behavior, as it affects almost all the physical skills we need for safe driving. It can interfere with attention, perceptual functioning and motor skills, as well as in decision making while driving.

Drinking impairs the ability to drive and increases the risk of causing an accident. The effects of alcohol consumption on driving-related functions are modulated by some factors, such as form of consumption (regular or infrequent), expectations about their consumption, expertise in driving and driver's age. The increased risk of accident starts at a lower blood alcohol level when drivers are inexperienced or they are occasional drinkers, and begins at a higher blood alcohol level when these are more experienced drivers or regular drinkers [ 11, 12].

The BAC represents the volume of alcohol in the blood and is measured in grams of alcohol per liter of blood (g / l) or its equivalent in exhaled air.

Any amount of alcohol in blood, however small, can impair driving, increasing the risk of accident. Therefore, the trend internationally is to lower the maximum rates allowed.

After drinking, the rate of alcohol in blood that a driver is showing can vary widely due to numerous modulating variables. Among them, some important factors are the speed of drinking, the type of alcohol (fermented drinks such as beer or wine, or distilled beverages like rum or whisky) or the fact of having previously ingested some food, as well as the age, sex or body weight. Ideally, if everyone drank alcohol responsibly and never drove after drinking many deaths would be avoided. Accurate information about how driving under the influence effects traffic safety would be a positive step towards this goal.

Study framework

Research on enforcement of traffic safety norms has a long tradition. In 1979, a classic work [ 13] showed that increasing enforcement and toughening sanctions can reduce accidents as an initial effect, although the number of accidents tends to normalize later.

Justice in traffic is needed insofar as many innocent people die on the roads unjustly. This is our starting point and our central principle. In order to prevent traffic accidents, a better understanding is needed of the driver's knowledge, perceptions and actions concerning traffic regulations. Drivers have to be aware of how important rules are for safety. The present study comes from a broader body of research on traffic enforcement, designed to develop a more efficient sanctions system [ 5, 14].

Our research used a questionnaire to gain sociodemographic and psychosocial information about drivers, as well as additional information on enforcement clustered in five related categories: "Knowledge and perception of traffic norms"; "Opinions on sanctions"; "Opinions on policing"; "Opinions on laws" (general ones and traffic laws in particular); and "Assessment of the effectiveness of various punitive measures".

A number of additional factors were also explored, including: driving too fast or at an improper speed for the traffic conditions, not keeping a safe distance while driving, screaming or verbal abuse while driving, driving under the influence, smoking while driving, driving without a seat belt and driving without insurance. For a more complete review, see the original study [ 14].

Objective

The aim of this study was to gain useful information to improve traffic safety, concerning the following aspects:

Frequency of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Reasons for either driving or not driving under the influence (DUI).

Perceived risk of DUI.

Drivers' knowledge of DUI-related penalties.

The perceived likelihood of being punished for DUI.

Drivers' perception of the harshness of punitive measures for DUI.

Drivers' knowledge of the penalties for DUI.

Drivers' perception concerning the probability of behavior change after punishment for DUI.

Sociodemographic and psychosocial factors related with alcohol consumption and driving.

Methods

Participants

The sample consisted of 1100 Spanish drivers: 678 men (61.64%) and 422 women (38.36%), between 14 and 65 years of age. The initial sample size was proportional by quota to segments of Spanish population by gender and age. The number of participants represents a margin of error for the general data of ± 3 with a confidence interval of 95% in the worst case of p = q = 50%; with a significance level of 0.05.

Drivers completed a telephone survey. 1100 drivers answered interviews, and the response rate was 98.5%; as it was a survey on social issues, most people consented to collaborate.

Procedure and design

The survey was conducted by telephone. A telephone sample using random digit dialing was selected. Every phone call was screened to determine the number of drivers (aged 14 or older) in the household. The selection criteria were possession of any type of driving license for vehicles other than motorcycles and driving frequently. Interviewers systematically selected one valid driver per home. The survey was carried out using computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) in order to reduce interview length and minimize recording errors, ensuring the anonymity of the participants at all times and emphasizing the fact that the data would be used only for statistical and research purposes. The importance of answering all the questions truthfully was also stressed.

In this article, we present the data on driving under the influence of alcohol. The first question raised was: How often do you currently drive after drinking any alcoholic beverage? Possible responses were: Almost always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely or Never.

If they answered either Almost always, Often or Sometimes, they were asked: What is the reason that leads you to drive under the influence? If they answered Rarely or Never, they were asked: What is the reason you rarely or never drive under the influence? In both cases, respondents had the option of an open answer.

Later they were asked to rate from 0 to 10 the risk that driving under the influence of alcohol can cause a traffic accident in their opinion (0 being the minimum risk and 10 the maximum risk of crash).

Then they were asked to rate from 0 to 10 the harshness with which they thought DUI sanctions should be administered.

They were also asked: Is driving exceeding alcohol limits punishable? In this case, participants had the chance of answering Yes or No. We would then compare the correct answers with the standard to determine the knowledge.

Drivers who were unaware that DUI is punishable were asked about the probability of being sanctioned for this reason using the following question: When driving exceeding the limits of alcohol, out of 10 times, how many times is it usually sanctioned?

Another question dealt with the type of penalties. The participants were asked if the penalties for DUI consisted of economic fines, imprisonment or license suspension, either temporary or permanent. The question raised was: Have you ever received any penalty for driving under the influence? Possible answers were Yes or No. Those drivers who answered affirmatively were then asked about the harshness of punishment: How do you consider the punishment for DUI? The response options were Hard enough, Insufficient or Excessive. Furthermore, they were asked whether or not they changed their behavior after the punishment.

The questionnaire was used to ascribe drivers to different groups according to demographic and psychosocial characteristics, as well as to identify driving habits and risk factors.

Demographic variables

Gender: male or female.

Age: 14-17, 18-24, 25-29, 30-44, 45-65 and over 65 years old.

Educational level.

Type of driver: professional or non-professional.

Employment status: currently employed, retired, unemployed, unemployed looking for the first job, homemaker or student.

Driving habits

Frequency: the frequency with which the participant drive, the possible choices being Every day, Nearly every day, Just weekends, A few days a week, or A few days per month.

Mileage: the total distance in number of kilometers driven or travelled weekly, monthly or annually.

Route: type of road used regularly, including street, road, highway or motorway, and tollway.

Car use: motives for car use, for instance, to work, to go to work and return home from work or study centre, personal, family, recreational, leisure and others.

Experience/risk

Experience: number of years the participant has held a driver license, grouping them as 2 years or less, 3-6, 7-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, 26-30 and over 30 years.

Traffic offenses. Number of sanctions in the past three years (none, one, two, three or more).

Accidents. Number of accidents as driver throughout life (none, one or more than one), and their consequences (casualties or deaths, or minor damages).

Once data were collected, a number of statistical analyses were performed, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), in order to obtain relevant information according to the aims of the study.

Results

74.7% of the sample said that they had never driven under the influence. 15.5% of drivers said they did it almost never, and only the remaining 9.7% (sometimes 9,1%, often 0,2% or always 0,5%) acknowledged that they had driven after consuming alcohol (Figure ).

Regarding the main reasons that led the drivers to act this way, expressed among drivers who admitted to having driven under the influence of alcoholic beverages, 24.5% of them indicated that it was unavoidable, as "I had to go home and couldn't do anything else", while 17.3% claimed that the act of drink-driving was an unintentional consequence or "something associated with meals", and only 16.4% admitted having done it "intentionally". In addition, 12.7% considered that "alcohol doesn't impair driving" anyway (Figure ).

"In any case, 60% of the interviewees perceived driving under the influence of alcohol as the highest risk factor for traffic accidents."

Among them, the perception of this risk (or dangerousness of driving under the influence) is greater in women [F (1, 1081) = 41.777 p <0.05], adults aged between 18 and 44 [F (5, 1075) = 4.140 p <0.05], drivers who have never been fined for this infraction [F (2, 1080) = 29.650 p <0.05], drivers who had never committed the offense [F (4, 1077) = 40.489 p <0.05], and drivers who have never been involved in an accident [F (1, 1081) = 12.296 p <0.05]. Table shows the values for this perception by gender and age.

Table 1

There appears to be no significant relationship between the perceived risk attributed to DUI and other variables such as educational level, type of driver, driving frequency, vehicle use and years of experience.

The main reasons put forward for not drinking and driving included not drinking in any circumstances (50,5%), to avoid accidents (28,3%) as opposed to avoiding sanctions (10,4%) - such as financial penalties (8,4%), withdrawal of driving license (1,8%) or jail (0,2%) - or other reasons related to attitudes to road safety (16,6%).

On a scale of 0-10, participants rated the risk of economic penalties when driving under the influence of the alcohol with an average of 5.2, in other words they estimate the probability of being fined as roughly half of the times one drives drunk.

The perception of this risk (penalty or financial punishment for driving under the influence) is also greater in women [F (1, 1095) = 30,966 p <0.05], drivers who have never been involved in an accident [F (1, 1095) = 8.479 p <0.05], and drivers who had never been fined for this infraction [F (2 1094) = 12.515 p <0.05].

There appears to be no significant relationship between the perceived risk of financial penalty and other variables such as educational level, employment, type of driver, driving frequency, vehicle use and years of experience.

Almost everyone (99.1%) thinks that DUI is punishable and only 0.9% of drivers think it is not.

On a scale of 0-10, participants assigned an average of 9.1 to the need to punish this traffic breach severely. The score is higher in women [F (1, 1086) = 29.474 p <0.05], adults aged 18 to 24 years [F (5, 1089) = 2.699 p <0.05], drivers who have never been involved in an accident [F (1, 1095) = 8.479 p <0.05], and people who had never been fined for this reason [F (2, 1085) = 26,745 p <0.05], which means that these groups are less tolerant of this kind of behavior. By age, college students are the least tolerant and retirees are the most tolerant.

There was no significant relationship between the perceived need to punish this behavior harshly and variables such as type of driver, driving frequency and vehicle use.

Regarding the type of sanctions, 89.5% of drivers think that driving under the influence is subject to an economic fine, almost 70% say it could even be punished by imprisonment, while 96.4% believe it can lead to a temporary or permanent suspension of the license (Figure ).

Among the drivers who had been fined for DUI, nearly 75% considered that the imposed punishment was adequate, while the remaining 25% saw it as excessive (Figure ). Finally, 91.7% of this group found they had changed their behavior after punishment (Figure ).

Discussion

Alcohol is a major risk factor in traffic accidents. From the objective standpoint, alcohol interferes with the skills needed to drive safely, as evidenced by numerous studies on driving under the influence of alcohol conducted to date. From the subjective point of view, drivers also perceive it as dangerous, as our study shows.

Around 60% of respondents believe that driving under the influence of alcohol is maximum risk behavior. A smaller percentage compared to those reported by other studies in which the percentage of people that saw drink-driving as a major threat to safety reached 81% [ 15].

First, we note a clear correlation between perceived risk and avoidance behavior. In general the higher the perceived risk, the lower the probability of committing the offense, and vice versa: the lower the perceived risk, the greater the likelihood of driving after consuming alcohol.

Thus, drivers who do not commit this offense perceive that the risk of accidents associated with DUI is very high. When it comes to drivers who commit the offense occasionally, the perceived risk is lower, and when it comes to drivers who often drive under the influence of the alcohol, the perception of risk is clearly inferior. Thus, the frequency of DUI and risk perception seem to be inversely related.

These results are related to the hypothesis of optimistic bias, which states that drinkers are overly optimistic about probabilities of adverse consequences from drink. In a study [ 16] about overconfidence about consequences of high levels of alcohol consumption, the authors established an alternative to the optimism bias hypothesis that could explain our findings, affirming that persons who drink frequently and consume large amounts of alcohol daily could be more familiar with the risks of such behaviors.

Another important finding is that the risk perception of traffic accident as a result of DUI is influenced by variables such as sex and age. In relation to gender, the perception of risk seems to be higher in women than in men. In relation to age, risk perception is higher in adults between 18 and 44 years old.

The finding about the reason for not drinking and driving supports the already evident need for an integrative approach to developing sustainable interventions, combining a range of measures that can be implemented together. In this way, sustainable measures against alcohol and impaired driving should continue to include a mix of approaches, such as legislation, enforcement, risk reduction and education, but focus efforts more closely on strategies aimed at raising awareness and changing behavior and cultural views on alcohol and impaired driving.

Almost all the drivers surveyed are well aware that driving after drinking any alcoholic beverage is a criminal offense. They also consider that this is a type of infraction that should be punished harshly. In this respect, they assign nine points on a scale of ten possible.

Finally, with regard to the type of sanctions, 90% of drivers think that driving drunk is punishable by a fine. 96.4% consider that it may result in temporary or permanent suspension of driving license, and 70% believe that it can be punished with imprisonment.

In any case, there are several limitations of this study. This was a population-based study of Spanish drivers; there is possibly a lack of generalizability of this population to other settings.

Another possible limitation of this study is the use of self-report questionnaires to derive information rather than using structured interviews. Similarly, self-reported instruments may be less accurate than objective measures of adherence as a result of social desirability bias.

Conclusions

In Spain, various traffic accident prevention programs have been implemented in recent years. Some of them were alcohol-focused, designed to prevent driving under the influence and to inform the Spanish population about the dangers associated with this kind of risk behavior.

As a result, many Spanish drivers seem to be sensitized to the risk of driving drunk. As revealed in our survey, many Spanish drivers never drive under the influence of alcohol, and many of them identify DUI as maximum risk behavior. This shows that a high percentage of the Spanish population know and avoid the risks of DUI.

In any case, the reality is far from ideal, and one out of four drivers has committed this offense at least once. When asked why they did it, the two major risk factors of DUI we identified were the lack of an alternative means of transport and the influence of meals on alcohol consumption. Both situations, especially the latter, occur frequently, almost daily, while it is true that the amount of alcohol consumed in the former is considerably higher and therefore more dangerous.

In addition, most drivers are aware of the dangers of driving under the influence, and they tend to avoid the risk of accident or penalty for this reason. Some drivers never drive under the influence, to avoid a possible accident. To a lesser extent, some do not drive under the influence to avoid a possible fine. They usually think that the possibility of sanction in the event of DUI is so high that they will be fined every two times they risk driving drunk.

Moreover, drivers know the legislation regulating DUI and they believe that the current penalty for DUI is strong enough. Nevertheless, even though almost all the drivers that were fined for this reason say they changed their behavior after the event, nine out of ten drivers would penalize this kind of offense even more strongly.

Knowing how alcohol consumption impairs safety and driving skills, being aware of the associated risks, knowing the traffic regulations concerning DUI and penalizing it strongly are not enough. Many drivers habitually drive after consuming alcohol and this type of traffic infraction is still far from being definitively eradicated.

Additional efforts are needed for better management of a problem with such important social and practical consequences. Efforts should be focused on measures which are complementary to legislation and enforcement, increasing their effectiveness, such as education, awareness and community mobilization; Alcolock™; accessibility to alcohol or brief interventions.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Audi Corporate Social Responsibility program, Attitudes, for sponsoring the basic research. Also thanks to Mayte Duce for the revisions.

Footnotes
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
All authors contributed to the design of the study and also wrote and approved the final manuscript. FA drew up the design of the study with the help of CE; the rest of the authors also contributed. JCP and LM were in charge of the data revision. JCP and CE also drafted the manuscript. FA performed the statistical analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

References

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Driving under the influence of alcohol: frequency, reasons, perceived risk and punishment

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Keywords: Drivers, Road safety, Driving while intoxicated, Driving under the influence, Alcohol In Europe, traffic accidents are one of the main causes of mortality in people between 15 and 29 years old, and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is a major risk factor in most crashes [ 1, 2].

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I believe that people still drive under the influence knowing the risks because people can't make good judgements while they're driving. With that lack of judgement also comes a false sense of confidence and relaxation, which tends to lead to people wanting to drive even though they're incapacitated. Another good reason for why people still DUI is due to peer pressure or embarrassment. Friends and groups tend to pressure each other into going out and driving somewhere even after they're drunk, because they just want to have fun, they don't really care about safety.

https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/

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Why Do People Drink and Drive? The Reasons Might Be More Complex Than You Think - Jared Justice

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Despite the fact that many of us vow never to drink and drive, the reality is that a lot of Americans choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. And even though they may know the risks, they may dismiss the dangers and go out on the open road even when they shouldn't.

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Drinking and driving is 1/3 of all of the traffic related deaths. Getting caught can cost thousands of dollars and sometimes even 10,000 dollars, so why does it happen so often? One reason may be because you have a false sense of calmness
and relaxation when drunk. Another reason may be that when drunk you don't know what your physical limitations are and you would think that abnormal things are ok.

https://www.ignitioninterlockhelp.com/blog/common-reasons-people-drink-drive/
https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/drunk-driving/#:~:text=Key%20drunk%20driving%20statistics,-One%20alcohol%2Drelated&text=Drunk%20driving%20causes%20more%20than,in%20deaths%20and%20damages%20annually.

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It's the beginning of summer, bringing vacations, longer days, barbeques and pool parties. During these months, you may find yourself having fun at a cookout or party, sharing laughs, good music and stories with friends over a couple of drinks. But, as the party winds down and people start to leave, you realize that you may be stumbling and slurring your speech a little. You can't remember exactly how many drinks you've had, but you're now faced with the decision of how to get home. Are you "okay to drive?" How do you judge? Unfortunately, this is a situation that may sound familiar to most people and adds into the common reasons people drink and drive.

For anyone who's ever been convicted of and alcohol-related traffic violation, such as a DUI or DWI, the choice should be clear. Risking injury or death seems like a common sense reason to call a cab. Adding in attorney fees, fines, ignition interlock device installation, and even jail time, the real cost of drunk driving is one to always keep in mind in summer, and throughout the year. However, people still continue to drive drunk, and the reasons may be more involved than a "simple mistake."
Common reasons people drink and drive may include:
* An alcohol-induced, altered state of mind and perception.
* A false sense of relaxation and confidence.
* Inability to judge physical limitations due to alcohol consumption.
* Embarrassment about being intoxicated and having to ask for a ride home.
* Inability to remember how many drinks have been consumed.
* Habitual drunk drivers may feel safe from ever being caught.
* An "auto pilot" state of mind, where normal, patterned behavior overrides critical thinking abilities.
* Alcohol reduces the ability of a person to judge his or her own sobriety.

Whatever the common reasons people drink and drive, the cost is clear. Any person who consumes alcohol should know his or her limits and have a plan for a safe ride home as necessary. A "one for the road" attitude invites tragedy and costs us all dearly.

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What are Common Reasons People Drink and Drive?

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It's the beginning of summer, bringing vacations, longer days, barbeques and pool parties. During these months, you may find yourself having fun at a cookout or party, sharing laughs, good music and stories with friends over a couple of drinks.

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Take a few minutes to research the risks of DUI. We all know the laws and risks associated with Driving under the influence; however, people still do it.

Why do people still drive under the influence, even though they know the risks and dangers?

Write a 1-2 paragraph response... supporting your response with some research.
*You must also comment on one classmates response and describe how you can relate to their findings!

List your references under your post!