Mia
Driving under the influence is a term used for people who are operating a motor vehicle while being impaired by alcohol. Depending on where you live, you can have a glass of beer at dinner and be fine to drive, but in others, you cannot have anything before getting behind the wheel. Regardless, there are some things that you need to know about DUI.
1. It Is Illegal
BAC, or Blood Alcohol content, measures the amount of alcohol mixed in with your blood. The legal limit for BAC varies from location to location, but if your levels are above the limit while you’re driving, that will be considered as driving under the influence.
There are a lot of potential legal consequences for people who get a DUI. However, in the opinion of a Minneapolis DUI attorney, there are also a lot of ways to get out of a DUI. These include arranging it so that no charges are brought, getting the judge to throw the case before a trial, and many others.
The circumstances that got you behind the wheel can play a major part in what happens next, so while being cooperative is important, having a lawyer nearby to make sure you don’t miss anything or incriminate yourself is always a good idea.
2. It’s Dangerous
Alcohol can quickly affect your body and mind in ways that you might not even realize because of how slowly it enters the system. This means that while you think you’re fine to drive, you’re actually not. Unless someone else is going to drive for you, this is a bad position to be in.
A friend of yours might have been taking risks that they wouldn’t have taken if their alcohol levels were lower, putting themselves and others at risk as well. Alcohol is known as “liquid courage”, and while that can be fun on a night out, it can also change the way you perceive things while driving. This is dangerous because it can cause you to make bad decisions.
Additionally, it can give you a false impression of how well you’re handling your vehicle. You might feel like you’re doing fine, even if you are speeding or not totally in control of where you are going. If there were any alternatives to getting home, this would be an excellent time to take them.
3. Feeling Sleepy
It’s important to remember that alcohol is a depressant. This means it can make you feel tired, even if you’ve only had one drink. Eventually, your body will start going into auto-pilot mode and fall asleep, which isn’t a good idea when someone else is controlling a powerful machine. Alcohol slows down your reaction time and reduces the accuracy of your movements. These two things are very important for driving, and problems can arise when not enough attention is given to the task at hand.
4. It Can Change The Way People See You
Reckless behavior is something a lot of people look down on. Other people might assume that you think driving under the influence is okay, and while this isn’t what you intended to do, it can still affect your image.
When someone is hiring for a job, they tend to look at past behavior and judge future action based on it. If you were reckless enough with your driving that people saw that as the norm, it might hurt your chances of getting the job. Additionally, if something happened while you were driving under the influence, this would be held against you during a trial.
Even if there are no external consequences, and nobody catches you, your friends might see you differently. Your behavior can be a major factor in how people perceive you, and if they see you as irresponsible, this could change the way they interact with you.
5. It Can Increase Insurance Rates
Driving under the influence is just one example of reckless driving that insurance providers take into account when determining how much someone will pay on their policy. Additional examples might include aggressive driving, racing on the road, or failing to show up for court-ordered traffic school.
Driving under the influence is considered one of the most dangerous types of behavior that people engage in while behind the wheel. If you are charged with a DUI, it can increase your rate by as much as 50% for as long as three years. Of course, if you lose your license this might not be something you’ll have to worry about, but if you are able to drive again then it will be.
Keep in mind that if you combine drunk driving with any other traffic violations, your insurance will go up even more.
6. There’s Always An Alternative
There are always other options available, especially in today’s day and age. You can have someone sober you’re hanging out with to drive you, call an uber, grab a cap, take the subway, or even call someone to pick you up. If you think it will be too expensive, remember that paying for a cab and an uber will most likely be less than paying for a new car. If cost really is an issue, many of these options also have ride-sharing features which means you can split the cost with someone else.
Driving under the influence is something that many people engage in, but it’s important to remember that it can have serious consequences. These can range from legal trouble, financial problems, and even affect your relationships with other people. Not to mention the dire effects it can have on your safety and the safety of those around you.
