Understanding Drunk Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were approximately 10,265 fatalities caused by alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2015. The consequences of drunk driving include making yourself part of statistics like these. It has also been estimated that 1.5 million people are arrested each year for driving under the influence of alcohol.

What Is Drunk Driving? 

Drunk driving is often a hot-button issue because of the high number of documented deaths and injuries it causes. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a term used to refer to alcohol consumption and then driving a motor vehicle. The vehicle in question could be a car, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a golf cart, a boat, a lawnmower, or a jet ski.

That being said, the conversation around drunk driving as a concept should continue in order to raise awareness and ensure there is far less ignorance of the law. It is a topic that should not be overlooked, especially for people who are more at risk of alcohol dependency.

Consequences of Drunk Driving  

After you’ve driven under the influence and killed, the emotional burden of guilt can be immensely unbearable, and that’s before you account for any possibly injuries you may have caused to yourself. Remember that intoxicated driving can affect you, too, bringing potential consequences like losing your mobility and impairing activities in your daily life.

Impaired driving can cause unexpected paralysis, disfigurement, critical brain damage, and even untimely death. Imagine the burden you have to carry on your shoulders every day just because you chose to break the law. Alcohol and drunk driving are not worth the risk you are taking for yourself and the people on the road with you.

Moreover, impaired driving is also likely to lead to a criminal charge. Anyone can be jailed for doing it. The law does not favor anyone regardless of social status or position in life. Drunk drivers are often ordered to pay fines and can even lose their licenses. Our experts have gathered a list of the standard punishments for conviction of a drunken driving-related offense. It includes:

• Suspension or revocation of a driver’s license
• Vehicle impoundment
• Monitored sobriety
• Alcohol abuse evaluations
• Confiscation of vehicle licenses
• Imprisonment
• Mandatory programs for alcohol abuse

The punishment depends on the seriousness and number of the offenses. Some people will receive court-mandated rehab on top of other penalties and fines.

Dangers of Drunk Driving 

Alcohol works in unusual ways. It has a sedative effect that affects an individual’s ability to think and coordinate their movements. An impaired driver is a driver who fails to focus and stay conscious when behind the wheel. The lack of a decision-making ability, slow reaction time, and reduced concentration will pose a risk to the driver’s safety, their passengers, and the drivers around them.

For alcohol-impaired automobile crashes, the cases comprised about 31% of traffic-related fatalities in 2012. Moreover, impaired driving is not just dangerous for people who drive cars; there are also cases involving motorcyclists, boaters, and jet-skiers. Any of these drivers, if under the influence, are risk of causing accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Potential victims can include other drivers and even passengers and pedestrians.

Drunk Driving and Alcohol Addiction Treatment 

Drunk driving can be a symptom of alcohol addiction. In most cases, the people involved in drunk driving are the same ones suffering from alcohol addiction. Fortunately, alcohol addiction is curable and preventable. There are therapies set to help addicts to cope, not just with their addiction but also the emotional fallout from a drunk driving incident. In-patient and out-patient programs are available across the country.

Alcohol and driving are two things you should never mix. Always have a designated driver if you partake away from home, or call a taxi. Alcohol addiction does not wear off overnight, but several lives will be spared with the right treatment, including your own. If you know anyone suffering from alcohol addiction, do not hesitate to contact a treatment provider for their behavioral needs. In most cases, a Christ-centered approach similar to Haven House can help.

If you are looking for a a drug rehab in Murfreesboro, you may want to consider our facility in Hartsville too.