Holiday festivities will be abundant in the following months. Holiday parties and alcohol go hand-in-hand. Alcohol sales in the U.S. spike during the holidays. In 2020 in Ohio, annual alcohol sales increased by 19% from 2019, and while that is a dramatic increase, it continues to follow a historical trend.*
With increased consumption comes an increased concern for impaired drivers. Even just two drinks can affect your judgment, and that could come at a hefty cost for you or someone else.
Many factors can affect your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content), including gender, ethnicity, weight, and alcohol tolerance. Unless you have the proper testing equipment, there’s no precise way to tell if you’re over the legal limit.
In all states, the BAC limit for alcohol in drivers is 0.08%; anything between 0.02 and 0.08 is considered “buzzed” driving. And while it may not be illegal, it is still not safe.
BAC | REDICTABLE EFFECTS ON DRIVING |
---|---|
.02 | Decline in visual functions, decline inability to perform two tasks at the same time |
.05 | Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations |
.08 | Concentration, short-term memory loss, speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception |
.10 | Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake properly |
.15 | Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing |
*https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/buzzed-driving
In Ohio, in 2020, there were 1,153 fatal crashes which resulted in 1,229 deaths. Of those fatal crashes, 637 were OVI-related and killed 685 people, and OSHP removed 16,529 impaired motorists.
Be safe this holiday season. Uber, Lyft, taxis, friends/family; there is no shortage of safe ways to get yourself home. If you choose to drink, commit to finding a safe alternative to driving, and don’t let others drink and drive.
If you have a recent DUI or OVI charge, call our Akron attorneys at 330-922-4491 immediately to schedule an initial consultation. You can also fill our contact form, and someone from our office will respond to your inquiry.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/805026/beer-wine-and-liquor-store-sales-us-by-month/
https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/2020_OperationalReport_Final.pdf
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