With so many anti-drunk driving campaigns in effect around the country, it is difficult to understand why people are still convicted of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs. Since drunk driving is preventable, why are people still being arrested?
One of the causes of drunk driving is that people do not intend to get drunk. They may only have a few drinks but the alcohol hits them much harder than expected. Some people drink alcohol on an empty stomach which can cause their blood alcohol content to exceed the legal limits.
Some people do not realize how intoxicated they actually are. They may think they are totally fine to drive and then get behind the wheel impaired. Some may have tried unsuccessfully to call a friend or family member to pick them up after a night of drinking.
Some people may be embarrassed to admit how much they’ve had to drink. They may feel like they don’t want to be a burden to others and try to get home on their own. Many people drink to excess and even though they know they are impaired, they do not believe they will get caught. According to the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers website, on average, someone who is caught drunk driving has driven drunk 80 times prior to their his first arrest.
Some people may try to drink coffee or otherwise sober up before driving. However, they may not realize it takes a human body one hour to metabolize one alcoholic drink. Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower does not sober up a human being.
