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"Together, we're doing something about Drinking and Driving"

STEP 1: EDUCATION

Congratulations you have already taken the first step in eliminating drinking and driving from your life...

WHY PEOPLE DRINK AND DRIVE

There are many reasons why people drink and drive. Lets first break it down into why people drink. So why do people drink? Why do you drink? Maybe its to fit in. Maybe you enjoy the way it feels. Some people drink to celebrate events like birthdays or holidays. Others drink during certain events like while watching their favorite sports team, or at the family barbeque. Some people say it makes them happy, or more talkative. There are probably hundreds of reasons why people drink alcohol, but you need to figure out why you drink. So think about it. Why do you drink?

Next we can talk about why people drive after drinking. People drive after drinking for many reasons. Some of the first brain functions to go after you start drinking are your reasoning and judgment skills. You might feel ok to drive because your brain is forgetting to tell you that you're not. This allows people to drive for simple reasons. The most common reason why people drive under the influence is to get home from where they were drinking. Other common reasons why people drive under the influence are to get food, more alcohol, drive to a different bar or party and pick up friends or take them home. Just like with drinking there are many reasons why people drive under the influence, but you need to figure out why you drive.  

DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING

When you are intoxicated your brain functions are limited. After just one beer your reaction time, visual function and ability to divide attention starts to deteriorate. After two beers your emergency responses, eye movement, and balance has started to deteriorate. By the time you've had four beers your brain functions have all started to deteriorate. Your ability to drive at this point has completely diminished. Your ability to determine speed, steer and track, coordinate, and move around obstacles has been severely handicapped. At this point you might still feel fine to drive. Your brain has also diminished your ability to reason and make sound judgment. Your brain is telling you that everything is ok, but your body is responding as if its not. This is the point where most alcohol involved crashes occur. You think you're ok to drive so you do, but then a car pulls out in front of you, or the stop light turns red and you cant avoid it because your brain functions wont allow it.

In the United States 45 people are killed every day in alcohol related crashes. Every 30 minutes someone is killed and every 2 minutes someone is injured. Drinking and driving kills more people then any violent crime. The sad thing is drinking and driving is completely avoidable. There are two decisions that you make when it comes to drinking and driving. Do I drink? and Do I drive? If you make those decisions together it might just kill you.  

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