Many people in Georgia enjoy going out for a night on the town or joining friends for dinner and cocktails. In order to stay safe while drinking, however, it is wise to plan for a way to get home if you have had too much alcohol to drive. Traditionally, people distinguish a friend to refrain from drinking and act as a designated driver. One study shows, however, that relying on a designated driver may cause a serious car accident, injuries and even death.
The study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs reported that as much as 40% of designated drivers are not completely sober when they hop behind the wheel to drive their friends home. During the study, researchers measured the blood alcohol content level of designated drivers as they left restaurants and bars. Approximately 40% of those tested had consumed alcohol and at least 18% had a blood alcohol content level of 0.05 or higher.
At this BAC level, drivers can be significantly impaired. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BAC level of 0.02 can cause loss of judgement and a decline in visual functions. When a BAC level increases to 0.05, people often have problems focusing their eyes and suffer from reduced coordination. They are unable to accurately track moving objects, have difficulty steering and may be less likely to respond quickly to objects in the road, pedestrians, traffic signals and bad weather conditions.
Researchers say that calling a driving service may be the best way to get home safe and sound.