Alcohol is a drug, and your driving skills begin to slip with the first drink. Worse, as your judgment fades you feel more confident, not less. Maine's written test places special emphasis on these laws.
Share of fatal crashes where alcohol and other drugs are contributing factors
Handbook p. 27 ↗Know the rule
If you are under 21 it is illegal to consume, purchase or transport any alcoholic beverage, so you may not drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.
Handbook p. 28 ↗An O.U.I. conviction for a driver under 21 means:
- Losing your license for at least one year
- A stiff fine and possibly jail time
- Paying a license reinstatement fee
- Completing an alcohol and other drug education, evaluation and treatment program
- An additional 180-day suspension if you had passengers under 21
Alcohol and other drugs affect your:
- Judgment: your ability to solve problems
- Vision: blurred and double vision; poorer judging of distance, speed and movement
- Color distinction: seeing different colors
- Reaction time: responding to danger
BAC at which vision is impacted for all drivers
Handbook p. 28 ↗Normal time for eyes to recover from headlight glare (almost two football fields at 55 mph); drinkers take longer
Handbook p. 29 ↗Know the rule
At night, normal vision is reduced by 50%. Alcohol also narrows side vision and weakens your judgment of how close or far objects are.
Handbook p. 29 ↗A drinking driver is more likely to:
- Drive too fast or too slow for conditions
- Fail to dim headlights for oncoming traffic
- Pass improperly (too little clearance, too long, swerving)
- Make frequent lane changes and drift in the lane
- Overshoot or disregard traffic signals
- Lose alertness in emergencies and take too long to brake
Crash risk rises with alcohol level
| Alcohol level | Chance of a crash |
|---|---|
| 0.05 grams | 1 times |
| 0.10 grams | 6 times |
| 0.15 grams | 25 times |
Alcohol level of over 50% of all fatally injured drivers
Handbook p. 30 ↗Each has about the same alcohol
| Drink | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beer | 12 oz. can |
| 100 proof liquor | 1 oz. shot |
| Table wine | 4 oz. glass |
| Wine cooler | 10 oz. |
Alcohol myths:
- Switching drinks doesn't make you drunk; drinking too much does
- Drinking doesn't make people friendlier: about half of murders and a third of suicides are alcohol-related
- Women are just as likely to abuse alcohol as men
- Only time sobers you up; coffee, a cold shower or exercise don't
Put it into practice
Your friend says he only had beer, not liquor, so he's fine. Three 12 oz. beers contain about as much alcohol as three 1 oz. shots of 100 proof liquor, and only time will lower his level. Don't ride with him.