This article is not another one on how to learn basic driving skills. You don’t need to be reading about changing lanes, parallel parking and turn signals. Instead you will be learning about the risks taken when drinking and driving and how drinking even a little before driving can cause major problems. Associations like MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have been able to make great strides in educating people about driving after drinking. However you should consider how drinking can affect your driving skills.

Just one drink can affect the way you multitask. Multitasking is a hard skill to accomplish even without alcohol and when you are under the influence it can become extremely hard. Some classic TV shows make fun of drunken people messing up as they try to multitask. We lose our ability to function normally when we are drinking and multitasking is a major skill that is affected.

Driving takes a lot of concentration, even for a sober person. One must constantly be watching side mirrors, rearview mirrors, and out the front windshield. Even on country roads where the chance of seeing someone else is small, we are paying attention to the road, our surroundings, and watching for any impending dangers (like animals in or near the road). If we can’t devote our full attention to driving, then driving is impaired.

Really busy roads can be difficult to drive on even without the influence of alcohol. This is because there are many things that can change in a moment. You can never assume what the other drivers on the road will do. The elderly lady beside you can decide to change lanes suddenly or brake a long distance before a stop sign. Other drivers might not be as careful as they should be. Reaction times are slower when you have consumed alcohol. What should be an easy task of navigating through traffic becomes a difficult one when we are slowed down by alcohol and the chances of having an accident increase.

This article just illustrates a few points of how even the smallest amount of alcohol can prevent you from driving safely. Driving under the influence is just not the smartest thing to do. Given the dangers of driving after drinking, it is best to try to take preventive action. Something to think about is choosing a designated driver, or even abstain from alcohol altogether. If you really cannot arrange any alternative you can always just sleep in your car. The sacrifice will be well worth it as your safety and that of others is of paramount importance.

This information is provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

William Bly of Nielsen and Bly is a DUI attorney in Maine whose website has more information available about Maine DUI laws.

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