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Ohio driving lesson · Be Alert

How alcohol and drugs affect driving

A 2-minute lesson from the Ohio course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Be Alert
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
11, 29

Alcohol and drugs slow your brain's processing just when driving demands quick decisions. It isn't only illegal drugs: legal prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine can impair you too.

Know the rule

In Ohio it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

Effects of alcohol and drugs

Effects of alcohol and drugs
AbilityEffect
VisionBlurring; harder to focus and judge distance and speed
Vision (continued)Harder to judge movement of other vehicles
Reaction timeSlower to process information and respond
JudgmentLess able to perceive surroundings and decide quickly
Handbook p. 11 ↗

Know the rule

Any substance that, when taken into the body, can impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely counts as an impairing drug.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Types of impairing drugs:

  • Over-the-counter drugs — check the warning label or ask a doctor/pharmacist about side effects
  • Prescription drugs such as antidepressants, pain reducers, sleep aids and sedatives
  • Illegal drugs — they affect reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness; never use them when driving
Handbook p. 29 ↗

Know the rule

Never combine alcohol and other impairing drugs. Drugs may increase the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Know the rule

Even legally prescribed or over-the-counter medication may affect your driving ability.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

Put it into practice

Your doctor prescribes a new sleep aid. Before driving the next morning, read the prescription warning label or ask your pharmacist about side effects. A legal prescription does not make impaired driving legal.

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.

According to the handbook, how do alcohol and drugs affect your reaction time?
  1. They affect judgment but not reaction time
  2. They slow your ability to process information and respond
  3. They speed reactions but reduce accuracy
  4. They affect reaction time only at .08% or higher

Answer: They slow your ability to process information and respond

Alcohol and drugs slow your ability to process information and respond to the driving task.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
Can over-the-counter medication affect your ability to drive safely?
  1. No, only illegal drugs impair driving
  2. Yes, even legal medications can impair driving
  3. Only prescription medications can impair driving
  4. Only if taken with alcohol

Answer: Yes, even legal medications can impair driving

Even legally prescribed or over-the-counter medication may affect an individual's driving ability.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
What should you do before driving if you're unsure whether a medication will affect you?
  1. Take a smaller dose and drive carefully
  2. Only drive on familiar roads
  3. Check the warning label or ask your doctor/pharmacist
  4. Wait exactly one hour after taking it

Answer: Check the warning label or ask your doctor/pharmacist

The handbook advises checking the warning label or asking a doctor or pharmacist about side effects before driving.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
How does alcohol commonly affect a driver's judgment?
  1. It has no effect until BAC reaches .08%
  2. It only affects judgment in large amounts
  3. It affects vision, not judgment
  4. It reduces the ability to perceive surroundings and make quick decisions

Answer: It reduces the ability to perceive surroundings and make quick decisions

Alcohol reduces a driver's ability to perceive surroundings and make quick decisions.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
Other drugs may increase the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook warns never to combine alcohol and other impairing drugs because drugs may increase alcohol's effects or add their own.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
Illegal drugs are the only substances the handbook warns can impair driving ability.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook also warns that over-the-counter and prescription drugs can impair driving, not just illegal drugs.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
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