Drinking and Driving

Video Discussion What were some of your thoughts as you watched the video about these real drinking and driving accidents?

The Accidents Wreck with boys: Boy in the front seat had his seat belt on. He suffered injuries, but he lived. Sean was thrown from the car and died; the other boy was thrown from the car and is a paraplegic (paralyzed).

The Accidents Wreck with girl driver: She was in a coma for three months. She had seven major organs injured. Her memory for previous five years was erased. (She thought she was still in high school.) She did not remember the college friend that was killed in the wreck Her learning ability is at an 8 th grade level. Her speech and walking were affected. One passenger was killed.

Video Discussion What were the consequences for the male driver? 2 counts of Second Degree Manslaughter = 10 years in prison, suspended after 4 years 5 years probation DWI charge: lost license for 9 years Charged with speeding and reckless driving 1,000 hours of community service Made to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Random drug testing

0 Tolerance Felony Conviction: jail time is guaranteed if someone dies in a drinking and driving accident no matter what the age of the driver. How long did he get away with drinking and driving? 3 Years!

Drivers who have been drinking: Feel more confident of self and driving skills Feel more aware and feel reflexes are better May drive faster than normal

Video Discussion The boys were less than two miles from home. The male driver was speeding. In a 25 mph speed limit, he admitted driving mph. The female driver was going mph in a 35 mph zone.

2010 Statistics Car accidents are the leading cause of death for American teenagers. Approximately one- third to one-half of those accidents are alcohol-related. Over 2,000 young people die every year in alcohol-related car crashes. 18% of the drivers involved in fatal alcohol- related accidents were 16 – 20 year olds. 24 – 28 year olds accounted for 34% (the highest percentage), of drivers involved in fatal alcohol-related accidents.

2010 Statistics 30% of the young drivers (15 to 20 years old) who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.01 or higher. 25% of those young drivers had an.08 BAC.

Statistics Since 2001, there has been a decrease in deaths for alcohol-related car accidents , , , ,228 The cumulative estimated number of lives saved by Minimum Drinking Age Laws: 28,230 lives since 1975.

Drinking and Driving Statistics Alcohol-related car accidents account for 32% of the deaths in car crashes. Every day, 32 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. In 2010, one person was killed every 51 minutes in a alcohol- related car accident.

Young Drivers Fatally Injured by Age and Percent With BAC =.01 or Higher, 2010 AgeNumber of DriversPercent with BAC over % % % % % % Total young drivers killed = 1,025 in 2010.

Drugged Driving The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than10,000 people are killed annually due to drunk and drugged driving. NHTSA estimates that drugs are used by approximately 10% to 22% of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.

Drugged Driving According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.5 million people over the age of 12 reported driving under the influence of an illicit drug during the year prior to being surveyed. Source:

Vision: Alcohol relaxes eye muscles, which make it harder to focus and see clearly. Blurred vision is often a result of drinking alcohol. Reaction Time: Drinking alcohol slows down reaction time. How would that affect a person’s driving ability? Alcohol Effects

Coordination: Drinking alcohol affects a person’s ability to do motor skills, such as catching a ball or walking in a straight line. Is coordination required to drive a car safely? Alcohol Effects

Low level – less than.06 BAL Moderate level – BAL High – over.17 –.20 BAL Extreme – over.25 BAL Double Vision – over.20 BAL and some other drugs Goggle Activities

Did you make adjustments/changes when you drove with the goggles on? Drove slower Goggle Activities

What is the difference between driving the golf cart and a car? We were driving it much more slowly than we would drive a car. You could look over the edge to see the cones and avoid them. Some drivers stopped completely during the obstacle course. There were no oncoming traffic / ditches to avoid. Goggle Activities

You drove the with the Low Level goggles on. How many drinks would that be for you? Goggle Activities

Is a person’s driving ability affected at blood alcohol levels below.08 (the legal limit for DWI)? Is there a “safe” amount that a person can drink and drive? Here’s the BIG QUESTION...