How To Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents?—5 Ways To Avoid DUI Issues
Every day, people are injured or killed because someone made the irresponsible decision to get behind the wheel after drinking. Although you may not be able to avoid accidents entirely, it is still important to know how to prevent drunk driving accidents so you can be safer on the road. This article will discuss 5 ways to avoid getting a DUI and causing an accident.
What defines a drunk driver?
A drunk driver is someone who has had too much to drink and is driving a vehicle. They are not only endangering their own safety but also the safety of everyone else on the road. It is illegal in all 50 states to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than .08%. Depending on how much you have to drink, your BAC can rise quickly and put you at risk of getting a DUI. In most fatal accidents, drunk drivers are found to have blood alcohol levels much higher than the legal limit.
How are drunk drivers identified by law enforcement?
Law enforcement officers are trained to identify signs of drunk driving, such as swerving, speeding, and other unsafe driving behaviors. They may also use a Breathalyzer test as an alcohol screening method to identify possible DUIs. This is done by measuring the driver’s breath for the presence of alcohol. If a driver refuses to take the Breathalyzer test, they can be arrested for DUI and face serious penalties.
What is the minimum legal drinking age in the US?
In the US, you are only allowed to drink alcohol once you reach the minimum drinking age of 21 years. Even if you’re of legal drinking age, it is still important to remember how alcohol can affect your reflexes and cognitive abilities when operating a vehicle. If you choose to drink, do so responsibly and make sure that you have a designated driver.
Although alcohol-impaired driving is often recorded in young and middle-aged adults, there still have been cases of drinking and driving that involved a minor alcohol-impaired driver. In an auto accident that involves an alcohol-impaired driver below the minimum drinking age, the driver can face harsh penalties equal to that of an adult driver.
What are zero-tolerance laws?
Zero-tolerance laws are created to keep underage drinkers from driving while intoxicated. In many states, if you’re under 21 and caught driving with a BAC of .02% or higher, you can be arrested. This means that even if you have only had one drink, it is still illegal for you to get behind the wheel!
How do drunk drivers affect other road users?
An intoxicated driver will display erratic driving due to slower reaction times, impaired vision and judgment, and a reduced ability to focus. This can be extremely dangerous for other road users who may not expect or anticipate how the driver will react in certain situations. The risk of a fatal car accident increases drastically when an intoxicated driver is on the road.
5 Measures to Prevent Drunk Driving
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), created mass media campaigns focusing on the dangers of drunk driving and how drinking and driving can cause serious injuries and even death. Aside from these campaigns, school-based instructional programs and community-based programs are also available to teach young drivers how to stay safe on the road and how to prevent drunk driving.
The NHTSA’s campaigns have been successful in reducing the number of drunk driving incidents and raising awareness on how to prevent them. However, these are not enough, as each year, thousands of fatal car crashes involving drunk drivers still occur.
Thus, it is essential that everyone takes measures to prevent drunk driving. Below are a few tips that you should consider if you plan on drinking and driving. By following these tips, you will be able to stay safe on the road and avoid getting a DUI. Drunk driving accidents are preventable, so be sure to take all the necessary steps to keep yourself and others safe.
1. Know Your Limits
Everyone has a different tolerance level when it comes to alcohol. Some people who drink alcohol can tolerate up to five hard drinks, while others will feel intoxicated after one soft drink. Thus, it is important that you know how much you can drink before your blood alcohol content reaches illegal levels.
2. Assign a Designated Driver
Although knowing your limits can help you avoid driving drunk, the best way is to avoid drinking entirely. An important step in avoiding DUI is designating a driver for the night. Before heading out to any social gathering or bar, make sure that you have someone who will be willing and able to stay sober throughout the night and drive everyone home. This person is the designated or sober driver, whose main role is to avoid drinking and driving to ensure everyone gets home safely.
3. Call a Cab, Ride sharing Service, or Use Public Transportation
If you don’t have someone who can be a designated driver, consider calling a cab or ride sharing service to get you home safely. There are many transportation services that will take you where you need to go for an affordable price. This is a much better option than drinking and driving. Remember that if you drive drunk, you are putting everyone else’s safety at risk. Additionally, the potential costs of a DUI can be much more expensive than the cost of a cab.
Taking the bus, train, or other public transportation can also be a great way to get from place to place without putting yourself or others in danger. When using public transportation, you won’t have to worry about driving, following traffic signals, or stopping at sobriety checkpoints. It is also a cost-effective way of getting home after a night out.
4. Don’t Let Others Drink and Drive
If you know someone who is planning on drinking and driving, do your best to dissuade them from doing it. Driving drunk can cause fatal accidents, even if you stop drinking at a certain time of the night. And so, it is also important to make sure that your friends, family, and other loved ones make it home safely.
5. Always Practice Defensive Driving
A drunk driving accident can occur at any time and place, even if you are not intoxicated yourself. That is why it is essential that all drivers practice defensive driving, regardless of how much they have had to drink. Pay attention to the road and anticipate how other drivers may be behaving. Always obey traffic laws and keep a safe distance from vehicles in front of you. Even though you were not drinking, keep in mind that you may encounter other drivers on the road who have too much alcohol in their system.
Why You Need Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney in Drunk Driving Cases
A DUI lawyer from the Law Offices of Jared Spingarn will be able to advise you on how to move forward and get the compensation you deserve. If you are a victim of a DUI accident, an experienced accident attorney will know how to navigate the legal system. An experienced lawyer can also protect your rights and ensure that you are treated fairly and receive proper compensation for any damages or injuries caused by a drunk driver.
Another advantage of hiring an accident attorney is that they can help you understand how to prevent similar accidents in the future. Jared Spingarn and his legal team will provide guidance on how to best approach a DUI situation, from filing a case against the offender to taking steps to reduce your risk of getting into another drunk driving incident.
If you are being charged with a DUI, keep in mind that a DUI conviction can carry serious penalties, including jail time, fines, license suspension, and increased insurance rates. Again, an experienced accident attorney from Jared’s firm will be able to explain your rights and how to go about defending yourself against the charges. If you are charged with a DUI, then it is important that you contact Jared as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Drunk driving is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. To prevent drunk driving accidents, designate a sober driver, call a taxi or ridesharing service, don’t let others drink and drive, use public transportation when possible, and always practice defensive driving.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI or was involved in a drunk driving accident, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. A qualified attorney from Jared’s firm can provide guidance and help you understand your rights. Don’t take chances with your safety—make sure you know how to prevent drunk driving accidents and how to avoid DUI issues.
>> If you’re involved in a drunk driving accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on their Contact Us page.
