Drinking and driving clearly linked to road accidents
Drinking and driving is clearly linked to the occurrence of road accidents. There’s no doubt as to the increased risk to the driver and others as a result.
In spite of this, the AA comment that they still hear things like:
“It is still common to hear drivers claim they are safe to drive after drinking.”
“One often hears comments like ‘I’ve only had a few’, or ‘I’m a cautious driver’. However, research shows that although alcohol tolerance may vary from person to person, even small amounts can affect a driver’s ability to deal with traffic.”
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In 1992, the AA was involved in ground-breaking research conducted by traffic criminologist, Dr Lawrence Barit. He investigated the driving ability of dozens of participants versus a strict control group. The driving tests performed were designed by the AA‘s driver training arm.
Each individual’s blood alcohol level was measured regularly throughout the day, while ingesting more and more alcohol. One of the groups was deliberately made to stay awake for 24 hours before the drinking and driving testing – to assess the dual impact of both fatigue and alcohol consumption.
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The results were as to be expected. The non-drinkers gradually improved as they repeated the tests. Whereas the drinkers got progressively worse. Some of them even had to be restrained from continuing the tests due for their own safety.
“Reduction in driving ability as intoxication increases is not the only danger on the roads,“
the AA commented.
“At very high blood alcohol concentrations, loss of consciousness can occur, making crashes almost inevitable among very heavily intoxicated drivers.”
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If involved in an accident while under the influence, this also presents difficulties for the medical staff at the scene of the accident. Alcohol affects the body and makes communicating or cooperating with the individual more difficult. It may also mask symptoms or interfere undesirably with medications used to treat the accident victim.
“It is a concern to the AA that research continues to reveal very high levels of alcohol and road use despite increased public awareness of the dangers. By comparison, the United Kingdom has low levels of drinking and driving even though most parts of the UK have a higher legal blood alcohol limit than South Africa,”
the Association added.
“This suggests that the solution does not lie with further regulation, but with enforcement and education. We call on the government to redouble its efforts in these areas to protect innocent road users from becoming the victims of drunk drivers.”
The availability of public transport in South Africa versus the UK more than likely also plays a role in this high rate drinking and driving.