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4 Reasons Why Drunk Driving Is Extremely Dangerous

 

By now, you’ve probably heard of ads and other people say not to drink and drive. Aside from the fact that it is what the law prohibits, it’s also not an ideal thing to do as it won’t just harm you but also the people around you.

 

Despite that, many still try to get away with driving while drunk. Because of this, thousands of lives are lost every year. These deaths could have been prevented.

 

Drunk driving is dangerous. And you shouldn’t be too complacent even if you still don’t feel the alcohol kicking in. Here’s why.

Slow Reaction Time

Alcohol is a depressant to the central nervous system. This means that it makes brain cells less excited. Because of this, the nerve cells slow down. This might be a bit contrasting to the behavior that drunk people often show.

 

When most people get drunk, they feel less reserved and become more animated. But, this is merely because alcohol first affects the parts of the brain that inhibit behaviors. Hence, the increase in animation, talkativeness, and sociability.

 

Over time, alcohol slows down the central nervous system. As a result, your reaction time slows down.

 

And if you try to drive in this state, it’s harder to think fast in case the need arises. It’s harder to quickly make a decision.

 

Because of this, if you need to avoid other cars or objects on the road, it’s more challenging for your brain to think about what you should do next. Hence, accidents happen. And if you read more here, you’ll know that it’s not just your life that will change. You can also affect other people’s lives.

 

At first, you may not be able to tell if your reaction time has slowed down. But once the alcohol kicks in, your brain will surely be affected.

Lack of Coordination

Alcohol targets the chemical in the brain called GABA, which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain. When it does, it switches off some of your brain cells. Hence, you lose coordination. It’s the reason why drunk people often find it hard to walk straight and move sluggishly.

 

If you try to drive in this state, it’s already harder to get to your car. But, it’s even harder to coordinate your hands, eyes, and feet. This will also affect your decision-making skills.

 

In case you’re driving on a highway with other cars, it’s harder to tell if you’re too close to other vehicles. It can also be more challenging to maneuver your vehicle. That’s why authorities highly suggest that you call a trusted person to drive you home in case you get too drunk.

Decreased Vision

 

Your eyes are very important when you’re behind the wheels. Without a clear vision, it’s harder to see the road and control your vehicle. But, alcohol affects your vision too.

 

Alcohol, unfortunately, weakens your eye muscles. Because of this, your vision gets distorted. Additionally, when your brain cells slow down, your irises also take longer to contract. As a result, your pupils take time to dilate too. When this happens, your eyes find it harder to adjust when exposed to bright lights, which makes it harder to see.

 

Hence, when you’re driving under the influence of alcohol, especially at night, it’s harder to see the road. And when a light flashes, you’ll be easily blinded by it, which can affect your driving.

 

But, it’s not the only impact of alcohol on your vision. Over time, too much consumption of alcohol weakens the eye muscles. And when it does, it can easily get permanently damaged. It can even increase your risk of eye problems, such as developing cataracts.

Reduced Concentration

Alcohol depresses the nervous system. It makes you feel relaxed. And too much of it can make you feel sleepy. Hence, many people try to drink alcohol just to sleep. But, it’s not good when you try to drive under the influence of alcohol.

 

When you’re sleepy, you lose your alertness and you feel less focused. However, these traits are crucial in driving. Because when you’re not alert and not able to concentrate, it’s harder for your mind and body to coordinate and more challenging to make quick decisions.

 

Drunk driving can change many lives in the blink of an eye. That’s why authorities and experts reiterate not to drink and drive. So, even if you don’t feel the alcohol kicking yet, always play it safe and ask a trusted person to drive you home or find a safe place to stay until you’re sober.