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People drive under the influence because many times they are too intoxicated to realize that they shouldn’t be driving. They don’t realize how much they have actually drank and think they are okay to drive. Alcohol not only alters your ability to make good decisions but also makes you feel more relaxed and confident. Another reason is they are too lazy to get a ride home from someone else even though they know they should. Many people feel safe in the fact that since they’ve never been caught before, they won't ever.
https://www.ignitioninterlockhelp.com/blog/common-reasons-people-drink-drive/

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Many people involved in DUI's are pressured by friends. In a study, 33% of drivers involved in DUI's were coming from social events. At these events, people who did not plan on drinking are dragged into drinking. If someone did not plan to drink, it is more likely that they will not have a safe ride home. When someone is under the influence, they have less situational awareness and may not even take the initiative to try and find a safer way home. https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/outreach/traftech/1995/TT094.htm

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People will tend to do something over and over again if they can get away with it. Over 300,000 people drive while under the influence a day and only 1% of them actually get caught by the police. When people drive they also become more confident and will believe they are ok to drive a few miles to their house. Their impaired judgment when drunk, results in many crashes.

Another major reason for people to drink and drive is depression and other mental illnesses. 50% of drivers under the influence also have clinical depression. Also 45% of repeat drunk drivers have a serious mental illness.

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DUI's can be caused by the confidence they are given. Also, because of the embarrassment of asking for a ride. Every 51 minutes someone in America is killed by DUI. which adds up to 27 people per day.

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11 Facts About Driving Under the Influence

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Read more about what driving under the influence is and why driving impaired kills. Get statistics about drinking and driving and driving under any other kind o...

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Driving under the influence is sadly something that is way to common these days. 27.7 million people have driven under the influence of alcohol in the past year and on top of that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crash that involve an alcohol impaired driver every day. There are many different reasons for why people continue to get behind the wheel impaired. For example, peer pressure, mental health issues, and addiction. It is reported that many teens who reported to drink and drive admitted to binge drinking- having 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a couple hours.

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Two of the most common or possible reasons for driving under the influence is impaired judgment and peer pressure or embarrassment. While intoxicated, your mind is altered and you tend to make poor decisions because your thought process is affected. People also dive under the influence because they could want to escape a situation of peer pressure or they are too embarrassed to call for a ride. Teen drivers are less likely than adults to drink and drive, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do.

https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/
https://www.teendriversource.org/teen-crash-risks-prevention/rules-of-the-road/impaired-driving

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While a lot of people who drink and drive and get caught are well over the legal limit, some people have gotten in trouble despite being within the legal limit. This is because someone drinking, even if below 0.08%, can still be impaired or face some of the consequences of drinking. The consequences have a possibility to cause an accident that was technically caused by drinking and driving, even if they wouldn't have gotten a DUI. Some people who may have been drinking a lot before hand, may have thought that they were under the limit, or even be under the limit, but when it came to driving, they still faced problems. People may be too confident that a small amount of alcohol wouldn't affect their ability to drive at all, but that's not the case. In 2016, 20% of all alcohol and vehicle related deaths happened when one of the parties was under 0.08%. Even if some people don't drink past the legal limit, it doesn't mean that their drinking and then driving afterward won't have consequences.

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When is it okay to drink and drive? Never. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) In 2016 one person died every 50 minutes in an alcohol-related crash-over 28 people per day. Although alcohol related crashes have dropped by one-third over the past 30 years it still causes over 10,000 vehicle deaths per year.

While a death is the ultimate price to pay for driving after drinking there are other consequences that can occur. Serious injuries to yourself and others, an arrest for driving while under the influence (DUI), and monetary losses due to damage to vehicle or personal property are a few examples.

Before you stand by the rule-of-thumb of pacing your drinks to one per hour you should realize your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can be much lower than the legal limit and still impair your driving abilities. Of the 10,000 alcohol related vehicle deaths in 2016 over 2,000 people were killed due to a driver with a BAC from .01 to .07, which is under the legal limit.

Who's at risk? While anyone that gets behind the wheel after imbibing alcohol is a possible crash victim there are certain statistics that show higher risks. For example, drinking and driving is the number one cause of teenage deaths in the United States. Certain groups are more likely to take the chance than others and this article will take an in depth look at those risk takers.

If you're wondering what driving has to do with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) there's a direct correlation between those who get a DUI and are diagnosed with AUD. Around one-third of all people convicted of DUI are repeat offenders, meaning they already have one or more DUI conviction. This is a strong sign of addiction and is one of the reasons many states require mandatory alcohol counseling as part of their DUI conviction sentence.

Whether you've already been in an accident, gotten a DUI, or are still in the habit of driving after having one or more drinks, these are all signs that your alcohol use is getting out of hand. It's probably time to step back, take a look at your life, and find one or more sources of help so you can stop this risky behavior before your alcohol use ruins your life.

Drinking and Driving Dangers

There's a reason alcohol gives you a buzz. It reduces your brain function, which in turn impairs your reasoning, thinking, and muscle coordination. Although you may feel great and believe its okay to drive the fact of the matter is the opposite. The impact of alcohol on your brain gives you faulty reasoning and lack of judgment and combined with the lower coordination you lack the skills to drive safely.

It's not just the driver at risk, either. The NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis data states in 2015 over 1,100 children under the age of 14 died in vehicle crashes, and almost 200 (16 percent) were due to alcohol impaired drivers. Of the 181 child deaths the following facts were found:

There are lesser risks involved when you get behind the wheel after drinking. The latest available vehicle accident economic cost data indicates accidents cost over $242 billion per year, and $44 billion is due to alcohol-impaired crashes. Besides the obvious damage to your vehicle and other cars involved there's a slew of other expenses that can add to the cost of an accident such as:

Keep in mind, if you're at fault and convicted of a DUI your vehicle insurance probably won't pay these costs. You stand a good chance of losing your home and assets paying out-of-pocket expenses and may lose your job in the process.

BAC and driving

When you drink alcohol, it is absorbed through your stomach and small intestine before passing into your bloodstream. It stays in your bloodstream until your liver metabolizes it, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures the amount of alcohol in your system in relation to the amount of water your blood contains.

According to Healthline there are many things that can affect your BAC. Here are some examples:

Weight

Age

Medications

Liver health

Food consumed

Binge drinking (drinking many drinks in a short amount of time)

People are different, so two people of the same age and weight can drink the same amount, but their BAC can be different. It's also important to note different drinks can have higher alcohol content including different varieties of beer. Here's an example of types of alcoholic drinks and a general time it takes to metabolize in an average person:

It's against the law in all states for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with alcohol in their system. It's also illegal for any adult to drive with a BAC of .08 percent or higher (.05 in Utah). A BAC of .08 is roughly three drinks for someone that weighs 140 pounds, or about four drinks for someone weighing 190 pounds. The key word here is "roughly" because as noted above, not everyone processes alcohol the same.

Here are some BAC levels and effects of your driving ability:

.05 BAC

Reduced coordination and response to emergency situations

.08 BAC

Loss of concentration, memory, speed control, and perception

.10 BAC

Reduced ability to brake properly and maintain lanes

.15 BAC

Impaired vehicle control, reduced sight and hearing processing

Most states have harsh penalties for higher BAC offenses, called a "super drunk" DUI. Although New Jersey has a higher BAC of .10 in most states it's about double the normal, or around .15 BAC. Why the harsher penalties? Because the more you drink, the more it affects your brain. In 2016 a full 57 percent of drunk driving fatalities involved BACs of .15 or higher.

Who is at Risk

While anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking is taking the risk of getting a DUI or worse there are certain groups that are proven to be more likely to do so. Here are some scary statistics from the centers for Disease Control (CDC) about drinking and driving:

Why younger men? Mainly because men not only drink more, they also binge drink more. Around 58 percent of men drank in the past month, and over 22 percent of those men admit to binge drinking an average of five times a month with an average consumption of eight drinks per binge. That's almost twice as many men binge drinking than women, so they're more likely to be caught behind the wheel while impaired.

Teens are especially high risk because they lack driving experience and are also more likely to binge drink. Because they don't understand the effects of alcohol on their brain and coordination they are more likely to get behind the wheel when they shouldn't.

Drivers with a BAC over .08 make up 63 percent of total vehicle crash fatalities. Passengers riding with a drunk driver account for 15 percent of fatalities, and occupants of another vehicle involved in a drunk driving crash make up 14 percent of casualties. The final eight percent of drunk driving fatalities are non-occupants who were walking or riding a bike in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Correlation between DUI and Alcohol Use Disorder

Getting a DUI doesn't mean you have alcohol use disorder (AUD) but there is a correlation to the two. Basically, think of your DUI as a big warning sign that your drinking may be getting out of hand.

Most states have legislation in place that requires someone who receives a DUI must get alcohol evaluation, education, treatment, or counseling as part of their sentence. About 30 percent of all DUIs are not the first offense, which is a clear indication of addiction. About one-third of repeat offenders have a BAC of .15 or higher when arrested, so if you have a second or third offense you're most likely be considered "super drunk" when you are given a breathalyzer test.

A DUI alcohol evaluation will help you understand whether your alcohol consumption is affecting other areas of your life such as family and work, and whether your drinking is considered alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. The evaluator may then decide on a course of action such as classes or treatment.

A full 90 percent of people who admit to binge drinking are not alcohol dependent or alcoholics. Only 2.5 percent of women and 4.5 percent of men meet the criteria to be considered alcohol dependent, so you should take the evaluation and education as a bonus to give you the chance to face the issue before it becomes an ongoing problem.

If you have a DUI and continue to drive while under the influence, sooner or later you'll get another DUI. Because of the high rate of fatal accidents associated with repeat offenders at that point the court will consider you a danger to others and the penalties will be much worse. That's why it's vital you determine whether you have AUD as soon as possible once you get a DUI.

Depending on the state you live in you may not have a chance for treatment if you reoffend. For example, in Arizona your first offense will cost you 10 days in jail, $750, and a 90-day license suspension and you'll be required to install a car breathalyzer once you get your license back. If you have a second DUI you'll face 90 days in jail and a minimum fine of $1,750. You'll also have to pay attorney and court fees and will have a loss of wages while in jail. That's why it's vital you seek evaluation and help if you get a DUI.

Getting help

If you have a DUI, it's a big warning sign. Although many people get caught behind the wheel after drinking and never do it again you need to understand cause and effect: when you drink you have to get back home, so when you decide to drink you should arrange transportation. If you don't you probably need help with AUD because you're showing signs of addiction.

Although not inclusive, here are some other signs your drinking has become a problem you need help with:

In a study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in New Mexico of 700 DUI recipients just under half reported heavy drinking for several years prior to their DUI. Another 19 percent were lifelong drinkers, and 25 percent had one or more periods of reduced drinking or abstinence before drinking heavily again.

Your DUI should be taken as an opportunity to confront your drinking habits and seek continuing treatment such as outpatient counseling, support group meetings, therapy sessions, or inpatient detoxification at a treatment facility.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/driving-while-impaired-alcohol-and-drugs

https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/index.html

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Drinking and Driving (DUI) - Alcohol Addiction Center

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When is it okay to drink and drive? Never. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) In 2016 one person died every 50 minutes in an alcohol-related crash-over 28 people per day. Although alcohol related crashes have dropped by one-third over the past 30 years it still causes over 10,000 vehicle deaths per year.

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Many people drive drunk because their statistical risk of death is always below 26%, but don't understand that 1 alcohol related death occurs every 52 minutes including drunk driving. In 2019 alone, 10142 people died from alcohol related driving fatalities. Those who drive drunk often only understand their statistically low risk and not that even if a drunk driving incident doesn't kill you, damages to pay and potential medical bills can toss your life down the drain.

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One of the main reasons people drive under the influence is because they misjudge their impairment. This tends to happen because intoxication alters state of mind. People may also drive under the influence out of embarrassment because they do not want to admit that they are too drunk to drive, especially if they need to call someone to give them a ride. Many people also have a false sense of security that they wont get caught because they have driven drunk before. Studies have show that fewer than 4,000 people are arrested daily for drunk driving, despite the fact that nearly 300,000 people drive drunk every day. There is also a problematic but common belief that “everybody does it, so it’s no big deal", which causes people to not think twice about driving intoxicated.
https://fnrlaw.com/why-drive-drunk-impaired/
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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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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Some common reasons people drink and drive are impaired decision making, confidence and 40% of friends let a drunk friend drive home. Alcohol greatly affects a persons decision making, Alcohol can make you forget how many drinks you have had. Alcohol can also boost your confidence, it can make you think you are good at driving when you clearly are not. A statistic I found was that 40% of friends would allow a friend of theirs to drive drunk. It can be because they want to avoid an argument or because they believe they are fine

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Alcohol can affect driver's ability to judge their position on the road, the position of road signs, the location of the center line, and the position of other vehicles. Alcohol can slow down a driver's reflexes. Young drivers may be scared to ask parents for rides when they are drunk.

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While many people drunk driving is a thing, however last year 1.5 million people were arrested for DUIs. Whether it be over confidence or mental illness people are still making to drive while intoxicated. 2.3 million teens are currently struggling with major depression in the US, and when you don't value your life it is very easy to get behind the wheel. Alcohol also can cause inflated feelings of pride. This leads to many people thinking they can make it home when they are in no condition to drive. All these reasons help people justify driving while drunk.

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People still drive under the influence because the alcohol gives them confidence and they feel like they can do anything.  28 people die from drunk driving everyday in the United States of America. Someone will drive 80 times while under the influence until they get pulled over. In 2016, 10,497 died from alcohol caused car accidents.

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It is still a problem because there is people suffering with mental problems, depression, and more that cannot keep up with these laws. Or some people are just cocky and stupid and don't think these laws apply to them and they just do whatever they please to see what happens. It happens with aprroximatley 4 million people all around the World.

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A lot of people drive drunk because they are overconfident in their ability to drive safely, some people end up riding with a drunk driver because they are less confident in their ability, even though they are less drunk. One fact I found was that drinking in general can differentiate because of work. Apparently white collar workers tend to drink more because of social influence, while blue collar workers tend to do it because of their current mood.
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/outreach/traftech/1995/TT094.htm

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Technology Transfer Series

Number 91, April 1995

WHY PEOPLE DRINK AND DRIVE
STUDY LOOKS AT DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPAIRED DRIVING

Very few people set out to drive while impaired by alcohol. Rather, alcohol impaired driving results from a combination of decisions about drinking and decisions about driving. The sequence of these decisions brings the two acts together in place and time. A study recently completed by the National Public Services Research Institute looked at the decisions people made to drink and drive.

Some of the most critical decisions occur early in the series. These include decisions about taking part in events where drinking will occur and transpor-tation to get to the event. Decisions made at this point can lead to conditions that make alcohol impaired driving a virtual certainty. As a result, many current countermeasures do not work. For example, encouraging social hosts to control guests' drinking may prove futile where celebrations create expectations of overindulgence. Efforts to combat alcohol impaired driving must address the range of conditions that influence drinking and driving decisions if they are going to be successful.

The study team interviewed almost 600 people who admitted driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol. They described in detail the series of decisions leading up to their most recent occurrence of driving while impaired.

Decisions

In a 45 minute interview, each drinker described decisions involving:

whether to take part in a drinking event

how to get to the event

what, and how much, to drink

what activities to participate in, for example, eating, dancing, or games

when to go, whether to stay over

how to get home

The interviews revealed more than 2,000 individual decisions that led, in one way or another, to alcohol impaired driving. These decision bases were then broken down into several categories for analysis, as shown below.

Major Categories of Decisions that Lead to Impaired Driving

For example, Social and Environmental Influences were the largest category leading to alcohol impaired driving. These influences accounted for one third of all the decisions, and came from friends and the situations they helped to create. Heavy drinking often arises in response to subtle overt encouragement from friends. For example, hosts may give the impression that they expect over consumption and do not appreciate moderation. Or, friends may promote heavy drinking to feel more comfortable in their own over consumption. Prevention efforts to alter these influences might seek to redefine hospitality and sociability with less dependence upon alcohol as a social lubricant. And, promote the idea that friends don't encourage friends to drive drunk.

The study found that the willingness to allow impaired friends to drive often arises from the need for a ride in the absence of an available designated driver. This can happen because the driver did not foresee the need for a designated driver in advance, there was no sober passenger present, or the other drinking passengers were unwilling to drive, even though less impaired. Some passengers are less concerned about their prospects of being injured as a passenger than about the possibility of being arrested as a drinking driver.

About one fifth of the decisions to drink and drive come from within the individual. These Personal Influences ranged from drinkers' need for relaxation to the desire to "get wasted." Often, the desire to maintain whatever feeling had already been achieved influenced decisions to keep on drinking. One of the chief influences upon the decision to drive impaired was simply a person's failure to recognize or admit that they were under the influence of alcohol.

Differences Among Subgroups

Significant differences appeared across subgroups of those interviewed. Students differed from older, employed drinkers. Students did more of their heavy drinking in large groups, to celebrate special occasions, and admitted to being more responsive to economic influences. Non students were more influenced by established, long term drinking patterns.

Gender differences were relatively small among the heavy drinkers. Women's drinking was affected more by social influences. Men's drinking was influenced more by the nature of the occasion.

Those in white collar occupations tended to drink heavily in response to social influences. Persons in blue collar jobs were more responsive to internal moods and feelings.

The differences among subgroups in decisions to drink and drive suggest that countermeasures will be more successful if they target specific decision influences and specific subgroups.

For a copy of Why People Drink and Drive: The Bases of Drinking and Driving Decisions (122 pages) contact: Office of Program Development and Evaluation, NHTSA, NTS-32, 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366-2752, or send a fax to (202) 366-7096, or e-mail ABERNING@NHTSA.DOT.GOV Amy Berning was the technical manager for this study.

U.S. Department of TransportationNational HighwayTraffic Safety400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-33

Administration
Washington, DC 20590

Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate information about traffic safety programs, including evaluations, innovative programs, and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish.

If you would like to receive a copy contact:

Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor, Traffic Safety Programs
Evaluation Staff
(202) 366-2759

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WHY PEOPLE DRINK AND DRIVE STUDY LOOKS AT DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPAIRED DRIVING

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Technology Transfer Series Number 91, April 1995 Very few people set out to drive while impaired by alcohol. Rather, alcohol impaired driving results from a combination of decisions about drinking and decisions about driving. The sequence of these decisions brings the two acts together in place and time.

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Most people who drive under the influence because they have done it before so they think they can get away with it again. another reason people get DUI's is because of impaired judgement. they think that they are fine and they can drive but they aren't fine and can cause accidents. 1.5 million people are arrested for driving under the influence. Others might get behind the wheel because of peer pressure and they want to show their friends that they can drive while drunk, they dont want to pay for a ride either so they will just drive themselves. 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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Out of 1100 individuals 660 of them thought that driving under the influence was a maximum risk behavior. Many of the people said that the main reason they do not drink while drive is to avoid accidents. Driving under the influence also give the driver feeling of confidence and relaxation. Of these people they said a reason they would drive while drinking is because they did not want to ask for a ride home. It also says that in 2019 their were 10,192 fatal accidents that were caused by alcohol.

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People drive under the influence even though their are laws in place to deter people from doing so. One reason for this could be the fact that alcohol effects people's judgement. This can cause people to think they are less impaired than they are. Also, if they have a short drive they may think that they are well enough to drive the small amount.

Another reason may drive under the influence could be if they have done it before. If people have successfully driven while under the influence without being caught, then it is likely that they will feel confident enough to do it again. On average, a convicted drunk driver has already driven under the influence 80 times before they are caught.

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People still drive under the influence even when they know the risks and dangers because they misjudge how impaired they are and drive anyways. Another reason could be that they are under peer pressure and do not want to be embarrassed if they choose not to drive. Furthermore, financial reasons could also be a reason why they still drive under influence because they might not have enough money to pay for another ride. Lastly, a wrong sense of security can also lead to these actions because they get over confident and think they won't get caught. https://www.jaredjustice.com/blog/why-do-people-drink-and-drive-the-reasons-might-be-more-complex-than-you-think/

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People tend to drive under the influence because they believe that everyone does, and therefore they should. As it turns out, the influence of those around someone can be just as important as the influence of drugs or alcohol. In 1997, 500,000 Americans were arrested for DUIs, and the idea that others are doing it leads more people to do it in a self-feeding cycle. This issue is especially prevalent with teens, 90% of which admit to having been influenced by their peers at some point.

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People continue to drunk drive because they are either too embarrassed to ask for a ride or they're impaired judgement makes them misjudge just how intoxicated they are. Because of this, 1.5 million people are arrested each year for drunk driving in America.

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Every 50 minutes somebody is killed from a drunk driving crash in America. 1.5 million people are arrested each year from drunk driving in America.
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-driving-under-influence

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11 Facts About Driving Under the Influence

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Read more about what driving under the influence is and why driving impaired kills. Get statistics about drinking and driving and driving under any other kind o...

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DUI’s can be caused for many reasons are overconfidence or addiction. People believe that a short trip may stop them from being pulled over or maybe crashing because they know the area. This is the downfall for many because they are over confident when they are drinking and think they can make it, but with their impairment they can’t and get a DUI.

Another reason would be addiction. Some people just can’t live without somethings. They may think that one drink they take before a trip is fine and they’ll be ok but they more likely then not are not fine and need help.

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Nearly 1.5 million people were given DUIs in 1 given year. The reason for people driving under the influence can vary greatly. 1 major reason for driving impaired is people incorrectly judge how impaired they actually are. When under the influence, your judgement is impaired and as such you may become more confident. With this new given adjustment in reasoning, your decision making skills are dampened.

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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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People drive drunk because they are too embarrassed to ask for a ride. They do not want to admit that they are too intoxicated to drive so they do it. Their impaired judgement says that driving home drunk is better than admitting they have had too much to drink.
https://www.ignitioninterlockhelp.com/blog/common-reasons-people-drink-drive/

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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!