ALCOHOL & DRIVING Driver Manual Chapter 6. BACKGROUND Alcohol is involved in ~40% of all highway deaths About ½ the people killed are NOT the ones.

ALCOHOL & ALCOHOL & DRIVINGDRIVINGDriver ManualDriver Manual

Chapter 6Chapter 6

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Alcohol is involved in ~40% of all Alcohol is involved in ~40% of all highway deathshighway deaths

About ½ the people killed are NOT the About ½ the people killed are NOT the ones who were drinkingones who were drinking

Drinking 1-2 drinks makes a teenager Drinking 1-2 drinks makes a teenager 40x more likely to be involved in a fatal 40x more likely to be involved in a fatal collision compared to any sober driver collision compared to any sober driver

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLEFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Changes the way one acts, thinks, Changes the way one acts, thinks, and feelsand feels

Many experiment to overcome Many experiment to overcome feelings of shyness, inhibition, feelings of shyness, inhibition, unhappiness, and/or increases unhappiness, and/or increases confidenceconfidence

NO such thing as a responsible NO such thing as a responsible drinker being underagedrinker being underage

Effects of Alcohol on the Effects of Alcohol on the BodyBody

LiverLiver HeartHeart SexualitySexuality BrainBrain StomachStomach SleepSleep

SIGNS OF A PROBLEM SIGNS OF A PROBLEM DRINKERDRINKER

Changes in behavior:Changes in behavior: Loss of initiativesLoss of initiatives Frequent lateness/absences from schoolFrequent lateness/absences from school Increased behavioral problemsIncreased behavioral problems Lower gradesLower grades Change in friendsChange in friends Trouble with the lawTrouble with the law InsomniaInsomnia Memory loss or blackoutsMemory loss or blackouts

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLALCOHOL

1.1. Reaction timeReaction time decreases decreases2.2. CoordinationCoordination becomes “sloppy” becomes “sloppy”3.3. Depth PerceptionDepth Perception is deceiving, judgment is is deceiving, judgment is

impairedimpaired4.4. Speed PerceptionSpeed Perception is distorted is distorted5.5. VisionVision - decreased reflex action of pupils - decreased reflex action of pupils - impaired side, color, & night - impaired side, color, & night

visionvision - decreased eye focus- decreased eye focus - may cause double vision- may cause double vision

MENTAL EFFECTS OF MENTAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLALCOHOL

Can make you feel as though you Can make you feel as though you are thinking more clearly than usual are thinking more clearly than usual = impaired judgment= impaired judgment

Affects INHIBITIONS* - elements of Affects INHIBITIONS* - elements of personality that stop you from personality that stop you from behaving w/out regard to possible behaving w/out regard to possible consequencesconsequences

BAC LEVELBAC LEVEL

Blood alcohol concentration – the Blood alcohol concentration – the percent of alcohol in a person’s percent of alcohol in a person’s bloodblood

- in NJ, it is illegal to drive when the - in NJ, it is illegal to drive when the BAC is:BAC is:

>21 yrs. old - .08 +>21 yrs. old - .08 +

<21 yrs. old - .01-.08 + <21 yrs. old - .01-.08 +

KEY POINTSKEY POINTS

BAC level of:BAC level of:..05 – doubles risk of crashing05 – doubles risk of crashing

.10 – 6x greater risk of crashing.10 – 6x greater risk of crashing

.15 – 25x greater risk of crashing.15 – 25x greater risk of crashing A “drink” means –A “drink” means –

1.5oz. of 86 proof liquor = 12oz. can of beer = 1.5oz. of 86 proof liquor = 12oz. can of beer = 5oz. glass of wine5oz. glass of wine

The greatest # of people arrested for drinking The greatest # of people arrested for drinking & driving had been drinking & driving had been drinking beerbeer

KEY POINTS cont’dKEY POINTS cont’d

4 factors that will cause an increase in BAC:4 factors that will cause an increase in BAC:

1. Amount consumed1. Amount consumed

2. Time the amount is consumed2. Time the amount is consumed

3. Body weight3. Body weight

4. Amount of food in stomach4. Amount of food in stomach

5. Gender5. Gender Myths for sobering up?Myths for sobering up?

*TIME is the only method *TIME is the only method

LAWS,TESTS, & PENALTIESLAWS,TESTS, & PENALTIES

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW* - agreement IMPLIED CONSENT LAW* - agreement to give police permission to test for to give police permission to test for alcohol use if arrested for suspicion of alcohol use if arrested for suspicion of drinking & drivingdrinking & driving

Tests for intoxicationTests for intoxication1. Chemical analysis of blood or urine1. Chemical analysis of blood or urine2. Breath test – penalty for refusal (p. 2. Breath test – penalty for refusal (p. 105)105)

OTHER DRUGS AFFECT OTHER DRUGS AFFECT DRIVINGDRIVING Over-the-counterOver-the-counter – may cause drowsiness or dizziness – may cause drowsiness or dizziness

- medicines for colds, flu, headaches, allergies, & other - medicines for colds, flu, headaches, allergies, & other everyday ailmentseveryday ailments

PrescriptionPrescription – look at the warnings – look at the warnings DepressantsDepressants – slow down the central nervous system – slow down the central nervous system StimulantsStimulants – speed up the central nervous system – speed up the central nervous system HallucinogensHallucinogens – changes the way one thinks, feels, and – changes the way one thinks, feels, and

actsacts **ILLEGAL****ILLEGAL** NarcoticsNarcotics – strong depressant effect – strong depressant effect

- may cause stupor, coma, and/or death- may cause stupor, coma, and/or death

DRUG CATEGORIESDRUG CATEGORIES

NARCOTICSNARCOTICS

1.1. HeroinHeroin

2.2. CodeineCodeine

3.3. Morphine Morphine

DEPRESSANTSDEPRESSANTS

1.1. AlcoholAlcohol

2.2. BarbituratesBarbiturates

3.3. MethadoneMethadone

4.4. Sleeping pillsSleeping pills

5.5. TranquilizersTranquilizers

Cont’dCont’d

STIMULANTSSTIMULANTS

1.1. Amphetamines Amphetamines (speed)(speed)

2.2. Cocaine (crack or Cocaine (crack or rock)rock)

HALLUCINOGENSHALLUCINOGENS

1.1. MarijuanaMarijuana

2.2. LSDLSD

3.3. PCP (angel dust)PCP (angel dust)

4.4. HashishHashish

Effect of Drugs and Effect of Drugs and DrivingDriving

PerceptionPerception JudgmentJudgment CoordinationCoordination VisionVision Mood Mood

Marijuana and DrivingMarijuana and Driving

22ndnd most drug found with drivers most drug found with drivers involved in a collisioninvolved in a collision

AffectsAffects Loss of tracking abilityLoss of tracking ability Distance judgementDistance judgement VigilanceVigilance Divided attentionDivided attention

DISTRACTIONS & DISTRACTIONS & DRIVINGDRIVING

Vehicle audio systemVehicle audio system

- playing music too loud- playing music too loud

- changing stations, tapes, and/or CD’s- changing stations, tapes, and/or CD’s HeadphonesHeadphones

- may not hear important sounds, such as other cars - may not hear important sounds, such as other cars honkinghonking

Cell phonesCell phones PassengersPassengers Other distractions????Other distractions????