Auto accident attorneys in Everett, Washington, will agree that drunk driving is a significant problem in law enforcement as well as public safety. Several lawsuits can be avoided if drunk driving is avoided, as well as countless, senseless deaths. It not only puts innocent motorists in danger but also its driver. You may have the best of intentions, or you may have done it before and came out without a scratch, but you were lucky. So was everybody else around you. It won’t be like that all the time. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Here are the reasons why you must avoid driving under the influence.
Your Body Suffers
The physical and mental state of someone driving under the influence can be obscure and minute that a slightly tipsy driver can deem themselves coherent and alert enough to drive home safely. However, your blood alcohol content tells a vastly different story. “Blood Alcohol Content” refers to the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream after the intake of alcoholic substances. Legally, you need to reach up to a BAC level of 0.08 before you can be considered drunk, but even much lower BAC levels can be lethal.
For instance, in as low as a BAC level of 0.02, your visual functionality starts to suffer, and you tend to have mood swings. It makes you more prone to road rage. Going up to a BAC level of 0.05, you find that you are moodier than ever. Your attention span suffers, and you cannot detect swift movements. Also, your level of alertness lowers, and your control of the small muscles decreases a bit.
This problem is exacerbated when you reach a level of 0.08, where your coordination becomes weak, your speech is slurred, and you find it extremely difficult to keep the vehicle within the lane. In a BAC level of 0.10 to 0.15, you find yourself unable to process information at all. Your visual functionality is significantly stunted, and your reflexes become too slow to save you. It is considered lethal for the most part. But even going lower than a BAC level 0.08 poses high risks.
Your Finances Suffers
Let’s say you survive a car crash. It’s not the end of the world, but at the same time, your life has been impacted significantly, whether you admit it. You suffer financial expenses. Some cars are too damaged even to repair, and you might end up taking public transportation for a while. That is the least of your problems. You might be traumatized psychologically by the event and might even find it extremely difficult to ride a vehicle.
Your Loved Ones Will Suffer
The worst effect of driving under the influence is the loss of life. Think of all the things you still want to do, your dreams and hopes, and the other things you could miss in the future. Think of your family waiting for you at home, your parents, spouse, or children. Think about your pet and how confused it will be if you don’t return. If you want to go home and you are too drunk, call up a sober friend or get a taxi.
A night’s sacrifice of not driving yourself can make a tremendous difference, especially if that means saving your and others’ lives.
