Drunk driving is when a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. More than 10,000 people die every year in alcohol-related car accidents. If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident, then you should hire a Fort Wayne car accident attorney for legal advice and to protect your rights.
Drunk driving is dangerous for a number of reasons. Here are some top reasons that drunk driving is so dangerous:
- Poor judgment and decision-making skills
When a drunk driver gets behind the wheel, he will not think straight. These people fail to think through the consequences of their actions. Moreover, a drunk driver does not have the ability to make rational judgments in a range of situations. As a result, he may not be able to make quick decisions on how to react to a certain situation.
- Slowed reaction time
When a drunk driver takes control of the steering wheel, he is not going to react quickly enough to situations that may pop up. He may be too inebriated to think through the situation and how to react. Moreover, a drunk driver is going to be slow when it comes to braking or maneuvering a vehicle. This can only make road situations more dangerous and unpredictable.
- Lack of coordination
When a driver is drunk, he will have a hard time coordinating his hands and feet. He will not be able to drive the vehicle smoothly because his body movements are going to be off. When an individual is drunk, his reflexes and coordination suffer. He can only react slowly to dangerous driving events like a car crash.
- Decreased vision
A drunk driver’s eyesight may be blurred or impaired by the alcohol. This is going to make night driving difficult and it is not going to allow him to see the road clearly. As he drives, he is not going to be able to make out details on the road or around his vehicle. He may be unable to react quickly enough when other vehicles are in danger of colliding with his car.
- Potential penalties and legal consequences
A drunk driver will not be able to avoid the consequences of his actions. He may be charged with an infraction or criminal offense if he is convicted of drunk driving. As a result, he may be sentenced to jail time, fines, and community service. He will also lose his license if he is convicted of a DUI.