A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Alcohol is a drug that slows your brain and spinal cord. It goes straight from your stomach into your blood and reaches your brain. The more you drink, the higher your blood alcohol concentration, and the faster your impairment grows.
Almost half
Share of fatal crashes caused by driving under the influence of alcohol
Food or milk in your stomach slows absorption, but two hours later it doesn't matter. Two people of equal weight who drink the same amount will have about the same BAC.
A heavier person has more blood and body fluids to dilute alcohol, so they'll likely reach a lower BAC than a lighter person who drinks the same amount.
You had three beers at a barbecue and plan to drink two cups of coffee before driving home. Coffee won't lower your BAC. Your liver removes about one drink per hour, so only waiting will help.
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.
Nationwide, roughly how many people die each year because of drivers who have been drinking?
About 5,000
About 100,000
About 10,000
Nearly 25,000
Answer: Nearly 25,000
Nationwide, nearly 25,000 persons die each year because of drivers who have been drinking.