Is it safe to drive after drinking modest amounts of alcohol?
Just a drink or two can make someone behind the wheel a threat to themselves and to others. Drinking alcohol affects a driver’s coordination, reaction time, and vision (particularly at night). Long before any outward signs of impairment are recognized, the driver’s judgment, emotions, and confidence are adversely effected. Even at a BAC as low as .02 percent, alcohol affects driving ability and crash likelihood. The probability of crash begins to increase significantly at .05 percent BAC and climbs rapidly after about .08 percent BAC. The speed of alcohol absorption affects the rate at which one becomes drunk. Unlike foods, alcohol does not have to be slowly digested. As a person drinks faster than the alcohol can be eliminated, the drug accumulates in the body, resulting in higher and higher levels of alcohol in the blood. The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a col
