Some people in Maryland may think nothing of getting behind the wheel of a car after having a few beers or cocktails. But, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each day in 2017 30 people across the nation lost their lives in drunk driving accidents. While the trend of fatal drunk driving crashes has been declining over the last 30 years, drunk driving is still a serious issue in our nation.
It is important for all motorists to understand how a couple of drinks could affect their driving abilities, leading to a motor vehicle accident. While most people understand that having a blood-alcohol concentration at 0.08 percent or above can seriously impair a person’s ability to drive, a BAC of 0.05 percent — which is below the legal limit — can negatively affect a motorist’s coordination, ability to track moving objects, steer the vehicle and respond to an emergency driving situation. Even a BAC of 0.02 percent can lead to a decline in a motorist’s ability to track moving objects and a decline in their ability to divide their attention between two tasks.
People may try various tricks to sober up if they want to drive after drinking. They may think having a cup of coffee, eating a meal or taking in some fresh air will make it safe for them to drive. However, these methods will not reduce the alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. Unfortunately, these myths prevail and too many people wind up causing drunk driving accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents caused by drunk drivers can cause other people to suffer serious injuries and, in the worst cases, fatalities. Drunk driving breaches a motorist’s duty to drive reasonably under the circumstances. Those who suffer damages in crashes caused by drunk drivers may want to determine if they can pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for the losses they suffered.
