Alcohol and Drugs
Driving a car requires your full
attention and alertness. Traffic
conditions change rapidly. You
must be able to react just as
rapidly. Alcohol or drugs directly
affect your alertness and ability to
react. Even prescription and
non-prescription medicines can
have this effect.
There are laws that deal with
drunken driving. These laws define
how much alcohol it takes in your
system to be legally "drunk." How-
ever, your judgment and reaction
time get worse with every drink -
even the first one.
The safest thing you can do is
never drink and drive. This can be
done if you plan ahead. If you
know you are going to be drinking,
make plans to ride with a friend
who will not be drinking.
What if you find that you've been
drinking and cannot get a ride
from a friend? Find alternative
transportation. Call a taxi. Take
a bus. Many communities have
transportation services devoted
to shuttling people who have
been drinking.
If you have no choice but to drive,
stop drinking and give yourself
lots of time to sober up. Time
is the only thing that can make
you sober. Things like coffee or
a cold shower don't speed up
the process.
If you see friends trying to get
behind the wheel after drinking,
stop them. Drive them yourself
or arrange other transportation.
If you think you are interfering,
remember that your interference
will keep them from sharing the
road with you.
Driver and Passenger Safety
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