| Drunk
driving is defined as driving under the influence of
too much alcohol. Many people drink at parties, bars
or other social events, and then get in their cars to
drive home. In most cases, these people are committing
the act of drunk driving.
The practice of drunk driving is
dangerous. In addition to steep legal fines, drunk driving
has moral consequences -- there is a much greater possibility
of injuring or killing someone while driving drunk,
including yourself, your passengers or pedestrians.
While driving drunk, you can also damage public and
private property and destroy landscaping and wildlife.
Drunk driving can also send you to jail. Whenever you
drink and drive, you risk the penalties of drunk driving.
Although the penalties in most states
for drunk driving are severe, including steep fines,
suspended licenses and jail time, people keep practicing
drunk driving. The fact is that drunk driving is responsible
for thousands of fatalities and injuries per year, killing
the people who are driving drunk, as well as many innocent
victims, such as your passengers, nearby pedestrians
or other drivers and their passengers. Every time you
drink and drive, you take the risk of becoming another
drunk-driving statistic.
In most states, if your Blood Alcohol
Content (BAC) is over .08% and you are operating a vehicle,
you are guilty of drunk driving. According to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most
170-pound men must drink more than four drinks in one
hour and most 137-pound women can have three drinks
an hour, on an empty stomach, before either person's
BAC reaches .08%.
Because exceeding these levels is
not usually associated with normal social drinking,
driving drunk can be a sign of alcoholism. If you think
you have had too much alcohol to drive home safely,
wait until you are sober, ask a friend for a ride or
take public transportation home. Otherwise, you risk
harming yourself or others.
Drunk driving is often associated
with alcoholism. Because most people understand that
it is a serious crime with serious consequences, those
who continue to practice drunk driving are at a greater
risk for alcohol-related problems. If you find yourself
repeatedly driving drunk, you should consider whether
or not you have a problem with alcoholism.
If you suspect that your drunk driving
is a sign of alcohol abuse, please think about getting
help before you injure yourself or someone else. You
may have had one or more DUI tickets, but there is still
hope for you and your driving record. By seeking alcohol
detox and long-term treatment, you are taking the first
step toward curing yourself of alcoholism.
Treatment Referral provides referrals
to rehabs that effectively treat alcohol, drug and substance
abuse, addressing the behavioral and thinking patterns
that directly contribute to alcoholism and its consequences.
If alcoholism might be a problem for you or someone
you love, we encourage you to give Treatment Referral
a call today to learn more about your treatment options.
800.399.3612 |
