A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Impaired driving is one of the greatest factors in crashes and deaths. Alcohol is a depressant: it slows reflexes and reaction time and weakens the judgment you need to drive. The more you drink, the worse your judgment and skills get.
Colorado has two levels of impaired driving charge, and a conviction doesn't depend only on your BAC number. Officers document how you drove, how you acted during the stop and how you did on Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
Your BAC is 0.10% when you stop drinking. At the average 0.015% per hour, it takes several hours just to fall to 0.05%. Coffee, food or a cold shower won't speed it up; only time does.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What does DWAI stand for under Colorado law?
Driving While Ability Impaired
Driving While Alcohol Intoxicated
Driving Without an Approved Interlock
Driving While Actively Intoxicated
Answer: Driving While Ability Impaired
DWAI means Driving While Ability is Impaired — the driver is impaired to the slightest degree.