People who drink and drive are a menace on Texas roadways. Every driver understands that he or she is obligated to adhere to traffic laws, but that does not guarantee that every driver fulfills the obligation. Many drivers, like those who consume copious amounts of alcohol before getting behind the wheel, disregard state laws, which places themselves and others at great risk for injury. Sadly, data shows that there are more drunk driving collisions during the holidays than at other times throughout the year.
5 Ways that alcohol impairs driving skills
Every person’s body reacts to alcohol in a unique way. However, regardless of a person’s age, weight, gender, etc., it is clear that alcohol can impair a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. There are at least five types of impairment that can occur in a driver who has consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel:
- Slowed reaction time
- Vision problems
- Lack of muscle coordination
- Inability to stay alert and focus
- Inhibited reasoning and judgement
It’s not uncommon for an intoxicated person to insist that he or she is fine, which is why it is always best to avoid drunk driving by making safe transportation plans ahead of time. It is not right for someone to place other drivers and pedestrians at risk because of his or her irresponsible decision to drive under the influence of alcohol.
It only takes a second for a tragedy to occur
If a person’s cognitive skills are impaired or his or her reaction time or muscle coordination has slowed or decreased, he or she could lose control of steering or misjudge distance and cause a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian. Sadly, many drunk driving accidents are fatal. It is understandable that a person who survives his or her injuries would want a drunk driver to be held accountable for the damages he or she caused. Many recovering victims seek justice by filing a personal injury claim in civil court.