By Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is the rate of the amount of alcohol present in an Insividual’s bloodstream. BAC is expressed as a percentage and is most commonly used to determine the level of impairment and intoxication of an individual. It’s been widely established that as BAC increases, cognitive functions decline, affecting a driver’s abilities. Tolerance, body weight, and other specific differences are all factors that can impact how alcohol affects a particular individual. This post will dive deeper into how exactly BAC affects driving ability.
Alcoholic drinks and beverages do loosen people up because of the ethanol present in it! It is also the same thing that makes us feel so good and relaxed because our brain gets stimulated as the receptors in it release dopamine. However, the euphoria and the pleasure you feel might not be good if you are driving.
It is a serious risk when you are driving a car or a motorcycle as you are not just taking a risk for yourself but also putting others at risk. The whole aspect of feeling euphoric and driving a vehicle can actually put you in a hospital along with someone else or something worse.
If you do not want to take that risk, read about the concept of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and how it decides on whether you will be able to drive responsibly.
What Is Blood Alcohol Concentration?
It is important to understand the concept before you start thinking about how it impacts your driving ability! The Blood Alcohol concentration (BAC) is an important part of how the law in the US is established with regards to the speed limit of a driver.
It basically refers to the weight of alcohol in a specific volume or section of blood. The walls of the stomach quickly absorb alcohol as well as the small intestine follow suit! This absorption can be weighed in the blood within 30 to 70 minutes of drinking alcohol.
There are several aspects that measure when measuring the BAC rise and rate of a person such as the speed in which they consumed alcohol, the number of drinks they consumed and whether your stomach was full or empty when you were drinking.
Your BAC will increase significantly faster when you consume alcohol beverages in a much shorter amount of time! If you drink alcohol without keeping any gap, it will turn you drunk much faster as compared to when you take time and spread your drink across a certain period.
Even the amount of alcohol you drink also influences how your BAC rises. The number of drinks you consume influences the way your BAC can be measured. Furthermore, if you are drinking on an empty stomach, it will definitely impact your BAC. Your stomach absorbs more if its empty hence, influencing the BAC.
Factors Influencing BAC Levels
According to a San Antonio drunk driving accident attorney, the average person drives drunk more than 80 times before they get arrested or in a car accident. But what is legally considered
“drunk”. This has to do with BAC and the different factors that can influence these levels:
Weight
Weight is one of the biggest factors that influences an individual’s BAC levels. After consuming the same amount of alcohol, individuals with a higher body weight tend to have a lower BAC than those with a lower body weight. Heavier individuals may process alcohol more efficiently than lighter individuals.
Gender
In general, after consuming the same amount of alcohol, women tend to have a higher BAC than men. This is because women usually have a higher body fat percentage and lower water percentage. This affects how alcohol is distributed in the body.
Food Consumption
Eating food before or during drinking can slow the absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream. Eating food can help moderate the increase in BAC, potentially lowering the overall intoxicating effects.
Hydration
Staying hydrated can help contribute to a lower BAC. This is because dehydration can lead to a higher concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream.
BAC Levels And Driving Impairment
Understanding the correlation between BAC levels and driving impairment is crucial for promoting road safety. As BAC increases, so does the risk of impaired driving, leading to potential accidents. Let’s break down BAC levels:
0.02-0.04%: Mild Impairment
At this BAC range, individuals may experience mild impairment in coordination and a slight decline in the ability to track moving objects. While the impairment is subtle, it can affect tasks such as steering control and reaction time. Drivers may find it more challenging to multitask effectively.
0.05-0.07%: Moderate Impairment
Moderate impairment leads to decreased reaction time and impaired judgment. Coordination, concentration, and the ability to process information are noticeably affected. Drivers may struggle with tasks that require quick decision-making and precise control.
0.08-0.10%: Significant Impairment
This BAC range represents the legal limit in many jurisdictions. Significant impairment manifests as poor concentration and impaired perception. Drivers may exhibit difficulty maintaining lane position, reduced ability to assess and respond to hazards, and compromised overall motor skills.
0.11-0.15%: Severe Impairment
Severe impairment leads to a substantial loss of motor control and increased risk of accidents. Drivers may struggle with basic tasks, such as maintaining balance and staying focused on the road. The risk of accidents, including collisions and injuries, significantly rises when a driver is severely impaired.
The Effects Of Alcohol On The Body And Mind
Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. This includes the brain and spinal cord. Alcohol primarily interacts with neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers in the brain. Under the influence of alcohol, individuals experience impaired cognitive functions and motor skills:
- Attention and Concentration: Alcohol impairs the ability to focus attention and keep concentrated on a task. This can lead to distractions and difficulties in processing information from the environment, affecting driving attention and reaction to road conditions.
- Memory: Alcohol disrupts the formation of new memories and can impair recall. This can affect a person’s ability to remember road signs, traffic conditions, or even the events leading up to and during driving.
- Decision-Making: Impaired judgment and decision-making are common under the influence of alcohol. This can result in risky behaviors on the road, such as aggressive driving, poor risk assessment, and impaired ability to make split-second decisions.
- Coordination and Motor Skills: Alcohol affects the cerebellum, a brain region crucial for coordination and motor control. This can lead to difficulties in maintaining balance, precise movements (such as steering and braking), and overall impaired motor skills crucial for safe driving.
- Reaction Time: Alcohol slows down neural processing, leading to delayed reaction times. This can be critical when quick responses are needed, such as avoiding a collision or reacting to sudden changes in traffic.
Legal Limits And DUI Offenses
In the United States, the legal BAC limit for drivers is typically set at 0.08%. This means that operating a vehicle with a BAC level of 0.08% or higher is considered illegal. Some states have lower BAC limits for specific groups, such as commercial drivers or individuals under the legal drinking age (usually 0.04% or zero tolerance, respectively).
Driving with a BAC above the legal limit is a criminal offense. Offenders may face charges such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), based on the terminology used in their jurisdiction. Multiple offenses can lead to more severe charges, with escalating penalties. License suspension, fines, probation, mandatory alcohol education, and jail time can all be possible consequences of a DUI conviction.
It’s simple to avoid these consequences. Keep yourself and others safe on the road by avoiding driving while under the influence of alcohol.
How To Avoid Accidents If You Are Drunk?
A lot of people believe that the type of alcohol consumed impacts the BAC however, that is not the case! What is important is how you are consuming it! Apparently, a 5 ounce glass of wine will affect your BAC quite similar to a 12-ounce beer!
If you are someone who drives and also enjoys an occasional drink or two when partying or going to an occasion, it is important to have some tips to avoid accidents! The best way to avoid losing control even when you are drunk is to have a designated driver who doesn’t drink.
In the US, the BAC percentage that is considered unsafe is 0.08 or higher. Hence, it is better to take public transport or share an uber with others to be legally and physically safe. At times, you might think you can drive even while you are drunk but the cops might not think so!
Conclusion
So, now that we have shared with you the significance of knowing factors related to Blood Alcohol Concentration with regards to your safety while driving, both legally and humanely, focus on following them. The impaired body due to BAC must be kept in control along with understanding the significance of life.
It is definitely a way to help motorists and drivers to become aware of their responsibilities. Comment on what is the maximum number of drinks you have consumed before driving and how was the experience.
Learn More About:
What's your reaction?
