As we approach the August festivities we must be reminded of the dangers of drinking and driving. Driving while either intoxicated or drunk is dangerous and drivers with high blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC) are at greatly increased risk of car accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths. Most members of our community have begun to recognize the dangers associated with drunk driving, but there are many individuals who continue to drive while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
Why is drinking and driving a problem?
Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is totally preventable. Very often innocent victims and families are made to suffer as a result of someone driving while under the influence of alcohol. There is evidence that the higher your blood alcohol concentration while driving, the greater the risk of vehicular accident and fatal injuries.
The principal concern regarding driving under the influence of alcohol, or other illegal drugs, is that driving under the influence of any drug that acts on the brain could impair one’s motor skills, reaction time and judgment. Drugged driving is a public health concern because it puts not only the driver at risk but also passengers and others who share the road.
Alcohol use and driving
The intake of alcoholic beverages blunts alertness and reduces motor coordination. People who drive after using alcohol cannot react as quickly when they need to. Their vision is affected, and may be blurred or doubled. Alcohol alters depth perception, making it hard to tell whether other vehicles, pedestrians or objects are close or far away. As alcohol use affects judgment, people who drive after drinking may feel overconfident and not recognize that their driving skills are reduced. Their driving is more likely to be careless or reckless—weaving, speeding, driving off the road and, too often, crashing. This can lead to tragedy.
Alcohol is a depressant drug which means it slows down your brain and body. Other depressant drugs, including some prescription drugs such as sedatives and painkillers, affect a person’s ability to drive safely, in a way similar to alcohol. Any drug that causes drowsiness, including some cough, cold or allergy medications, can also affect a person’s ability to drive safely. When alcohol and another depressant drug are combined, the effect is more intense and dangerous than the effect of either drug on its own. When taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, it is wise to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before driving.
The effect of alcohol on an individual is determined primarily by two factors: the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which it is absorbed by the body. Other contributing factors include gender, bodyweight, alcohol tolerance, mood, environment and the amount of food consumed.
What can you do?
The education message must continue at all levels including the young. The message should be very clear: Do not drink and drive and do not ride with anyone who has too much to drink. During periods when individuals tend to use more alcohol than usual, such as Carnival, the public must be reminded about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
If you are at a function and you do not use alcohol you can volunteer to be a designated driver for your friends.
If you see someone using illegal drugs and alcohol you should discourage them from driving, even if it means taking the keys from them.
When you are driving it is important to do the following to help reduce accidents:
• Wear seatbelts at all times.
• Never drive when fatigued. The dangers posed when fatigued are similar to those when intoxicated. A drunk or fatigued driver has slowed reactions and impaired judgment. A driver who nods off at the wheel has no reactions and no judgment!
• Do not use a car phone, put on make-up, comb your hair, or eat while driving. Drivers using cellular phones are four times more likely to have an accident than other drivers.
• Steer clear of aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers may cause accidents
• Do not text and drive.
• Do not drive if you are using stimulant or anti-depressive medications.
Conclusion
Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs can lead to deadly effects. There is no doubt that alcohol can severely influence the brain and, as a result, can interfere with the driving skills of the individual who consumes alcohol and then drives a motor vehicle. Injuries and deaths as a result of accidents where the driver had consumed alcohol can be prevented. Alcohol even in small amounts can impair the driving skills of an individual and can result in a traffic accident which can be fatal. The message should be clear: If you drink you should not drive!
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
