Don’t Drink And Drive!

Everyone knows drunk driving is against the law, but some people continue to do it. A 2014 study indicated 1.5% of drivers in Virginia reported that they had driven after having had too much to drink in the 30 days before the survey.

The consequences of drunk driving can be devastating. Drunk driving accidents often cause serious injury and can even lead to death. Between 2003 and 2012, there were 2,613 fatalities in Virginia caused by drunk driving. In 2015, 28% (208 deaths) of all traffic fatalities in Virginia resulted from drunk driving.

Even a small amount of alcohol can cause some impairment, and a drunk driver becomes more dangerous to themselves and everyone else on the road as their level of alcohol increases.

Facts About Drunk Driving & Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Impaired Driving Factsheet, here are some of the typical effects for the average person at various levels of alcohol:

  • .02% BAC, about two standard drinks in an hour – Some loss of judgment, altered mood, decline in visual functioning, and decline in ability to perform more than one task at a time.
  • .05% BAC, about three standard drinks in an hour – Impaired judgment, lowered alertness, reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced ability to respond to emergency driving situations.
  • .08% BAC (legal limit in Virginia), about four standard drinks in an hour – Poor muscle coordination; impaired judgment, self-control, reasoning, and memory; reduced information processing ability, impaired perception.
  • .10% BAC, about five standard drinks in an hour – Clear deterioration of reaction time and control, slurred speech, poor coordination, and slowed thinking; reduced ability to stay in lane and brake appropriately.
  • .15% BAC (potential for punitive damages in Virginia), about seven standard drinks in an hour – Far less muscle control than usual, major loss of balance; substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing.

Injured In A Drunk Driving Accident? Call Joannou & Associates!

The best way for a driver to avoid causing a drunk driving accident is to avoid driving after drinking alcohol, or at least to wait to drive until enough time has passed for the alcohol to leave their system. Unfortunately, some drivers make the wrong choice and drive when they are drunk, and many of those irresponsible drivers cause accidents that injure innocent victims.

If you are hurt in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact Joannou & Associates – We Represent Injured Persons! Give us a call today at (757) 399-1700 and let us help.

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If you have been injured, we will make it as easy as possible for you. Contact us for a complimentary initial interview. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

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