How to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol
Find out why you should never drive while drunk, how to avoid doing so, and what happens and what to do it you are stopped for drinking while driving.
According to experts, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents. This is because alcohol and other drugs impair your judgment, and making simple mistakes or miscalculations can lead to a car accident.
So if you want to drive safely and avoid getting arrested for drunk driving, it’s wise to avoiud consuming any alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car.
Excessive alcohol is bad for you
Drinking too much doesn’t just impair your ability to drive safely. Excessive alcohol in your body’s system can also lead to numerous health complications.
As well as causing anxiety, alcohol can also affect your liver. Common side effects of excessive alcohol in the body include liver cirrhosis, anxiety, pressure, etc. Also, it can lead to alcohol use disorder. Signs and symptoms of alcohol disorder include:
- Inability to limit alcohol consumption
- Having a strong alcohol craving
- Taking more time to drink
- Feeling hangovers
- Failing to attend to life obligations like school, work, or family
- Failing to attend social activities in your life
- Alcohol intolerance. This is a situation where you take a lot of alcohol to feel that high effect
- Developing alcohol withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, as well as shaking.
How to handle alcohol
Don’t let alcohol consumption injure your driving record. Limit alcohol use in your life and you’ll have a far better driving experience.
There are several strategies you can adopt and stay away from drunk driving. Remember, drunk driving can cause accidents, wrongful death, car damage, and unending legal battles. Stay away from alcohol and have a wonderful driving experience. Here are a few tips to help you stay away from drunk driving:
Don’t drive while drunk
Avoid getting behind the wheel of a vehicle if you are under the influence alcohol. This is both common sense and legally required by law. If you are caught drinking and driving on the road or at Florida DUI checkpoints you could be charged and fined – and even imprisoned. Your license can also be suspended.
So why jeopardize your driving experience? Stay away from alcohol if you want to hit the road.
Don’t get in a car with a drunk driver
If you suspect that the driver of a car is drunk, don’t get in it. Remember, just few bottles of beer can impair a driver’s judgment and cause drunk driving accidents. So if you suspect someone has been drinking, politely decline a lift from them.
Appoint a designated driver
If you are planning to drink, appoint a designated driver. Alternatively, consider using public transport to get you home. Catching a bus, train, taxi or Uber, or even staying in a hotel, is much safer (and cheaper) than risking an accident, or being stopped for drink driving.
Plan safe parties
Consider planning for safe parties. This includes providing non-alcoholic drinks and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed. If you know someone is a designated driver, then ensure they are adequately catered for. And if you know one of your guests is planning to drive, keep an eye on their alcohol consumption and encourage them to choose non-alcoholic drinks.
Don’t drive alone
Don’t drive alone at night, as it can be risky, especially if you have had a drink. Driving at night can make you tired, and if you are driving alone you may drift off. Having a passenger to talk to you and keep you alert can make a big difference, particularly if you have a long journey.
It’s far better not to drink at all than have even just one drink if you know you’ll be driving a long distance later in the evening. So plan ahead and make sure you have non-alcoholic drinks you like to consume instead.
Eat more food
It’s been proven that drinking on an empty stomach makes you more intoxicated, more quickly. That’s why you are advised to eat before and while you drink. Make sure it’s substantial food too. A salad won’t help absorb much alcohol! Instead choose carbs and proteins.
Also, remember that drinking on empty stomach means that you have lowered inhibitions. This can lead to poor decision making and over-confidence, none of which makes you a wise or careful driver.
Use rideshare apps
With so many ridesharing apps such as Uber available today, you don’t need to drive. But don’t wait until midnight when you’re drunk to try to download the app. If you’re planning a night out, download the app beforehand, like it to a verified payment method and familiarize yourself with it. Then, when you need to order a ride home you’ll be prepared.
Understand your body
We all metabolize alcohol differently, so it’s important to understand your body. For example, the amount of alcohol you metabolize per hour is directly proportional to your body weight. So, if you are not very heavy, go slow on the number of bottles you consume per hour.
Also, consider things like dieting, alcohol intolerance of your body. Whatever your weight or constitution, it’s always good to drink more water when taking alcohol.
Look for a treatment plan
If you are addicted to alcohol, look for a treatment plan. A doctor can assign you an effective treatment planned can recommend an alcohol treatment center if you need one. Use approved treatment options and follow the treatment plan. Understand the dangers of taking excessive alcohol.
Parenting
Your children will be observing your relationship with alcohol, so make sure you set them a positive example, Talk to them about responsible drinking and the dangers of excess alcohol. Teach them the dangers of drunk driving too. Good parenting can positively impact your children’s drinking behavior.
Consider investing in behavioral therapy
Behavioral therapy can help you control your drinking. This includes therapies like counseling and attending support groups. You will learn about alcohol, how to control it, and its negative effects. Your support group will help you identify things that lead to heavy drinking. You will learn how to manage stress and anxiety.
Don’t run away from police check-points
It can feel like police checkups are meant to catch you out, especially if you are driving while drunk. However, their purpose is to help you stay within the law and improve your road safety. So always cooperate with officers and respect them. Remember: they are there to save your life.
As tempting as it may be, don’t warn your friends about the location of police roadblocks. This can make road safety challenging to achieve. Allow the police to carry out their duties. Let them check your blood alcohol limit. Allow the police to enforce the law; it’s for your own good.
How to behave after being stopped for drunk driving
If you’re under the influence of alcohol, don’t drive. Unfortunately, some people don’t heed this advice. So what should you do if the police stop you while driving and you’re drunk? Here are some of the steps you should take
Pull Over
If you are stopped by police officers, simply pull over to a safe place. Then turn off your car. Don’t try to run away as this could only worsen your situation. Anything you do at this time will go into their report. So be wise.
Stay calm
Just stay calm. Don’t try making any suspicious moves. Remember, the police officers are keenly observing you, so don’t try to hide any alcoholic drinks or drugs. The best thing to do is to keep your hands on the steering wheel.
Be polite
Cooperate with the police. Don’t be rude, talk to them politely – arguing won’t help your situation. Being hostile and combative will push the officers to arrest you, even if your blood level doesn’t exceed the legal limit. Plus, you should avoid being talkative as this could arouse suspicion.
Offer minimal information
Avoid talking too much. All you need at this point is to tell the truth when asked for it, so, be careful not to incriminate yourself. Provide the police officers with your driver’s license, proof of insurance, your name, as well as, your vehicle’s registration number. Don’t tell them that you have been drinking. One way to avoid many questions is to simply say, “I am sorry officer”, nothing more.
It’s also important to consider resisting sobriety tests. Remember, you aren’t under obligation to carry out these tests. Of course, your refusal might prompt the officers to suspend your driver’s license, but they won’t be able to file a case against you in court. Providing them with objective data will only weaken your case. So, always refuse to take the tests unless you’re certain that you aren’t intoxicated.
Cooperate with the police
If you are arrested for being drunk, always be cooperative. Follow the officer’s instructions and stay calm. You’ll probably be detained for a short period and then released on bail.
Once you’re released from jail, record everything you remember. Make this recording immediately after your release. For instance, you may want to note down what you were drinking, where you were before driving, when the police pulled you over, how the officers treated you, as well as when you took the chemical test.
Hire an attorney
Before trying to fight a DUI case, it’s imperative to get legal representation. Look for an experienced attorney who has a positive track record handling such cases. Fully discuss your situation with them and they’ll be able to file a legitimate case on your behalf. View more at this link.
What to expect if you’re charged with DUI
If you’re charged for a DUI offense, there are certain things you should expect.
- Arrested – The officers who pulled you over will arrest you and take you to jail. You’ll then stay there until you’re bonded out. Essentially, most people remain in jail until they sober up. And in some jurisdictions, you might be required to appear before a judge. And in other standard procedures, the officers in jail are allowed to accept the bond.
- Court – Unless you have a special case, you’ll be required to appear before the court. Here, you’ll either accept or deny liability for the offense.
- Driver’s license suspension – If you’re convicted of DUI, you’ll definitely be required to surrender your driver’s license to the police. This suspension is usually done immediately after you’re found guilty of the offense.
- Pay fines – You’ll be expected to pay fines, towing fees, counseling fees, attorney fees, court costs, as well as, storage charges. This is going to cost you a lot of money. And if there’s a collision, a personal injury, or property damage, the cost can be higher.
- Jailed – If you’re arrested for DUI, expect to spend some time in jail. Depending on the nature of your case, you can be incarcerated for a specific period of time. But for the multiple offenders, the jail time can be a bit longer.
- Probation – If the authorities charge you with a DUI offense, you should be ready to go on probation. As such, you’ll be required to visit your probation officer regularly. Plus, you’ll be expected to provide the probation officer with proof that you’ve quit drinking or consuming drugs.
- Effects on your insurance cover – Once your auto insurer realized that you were involved in a DUI case, they’ll automatically stop being your friend. Insurance costs will rise, and you might not be able to obtain insurance from other companies.
- Record in your driving history – Even if the conviction is immediately withdrawn from your driving record, a record of it might still remain visible on your permanent driving record. There’ll always be documentation about your DUI arrests, as well as, convictions.
Why hire a skilled attorney?
Defending against DUI convictions can quickly become complex. The attorney who reviews your arrest information has the required resources and expertise to help you build a strong defense case.
After carefully examining the facts of your case, your attorney can utuselize toxicology experts to challenge the blood test results. Here are some reasons why you really require an attorney on your side:
Professional legal representation
A lawyer will give you professional legal representation. This includes gathering evidence and litigating your case before a court. A good lawyer will go through your DUI case, spot loopholes, and defend you in court.
Protect your rights
Don’t represent yourself in court. DUI cases are very complex. They involve a lot of processes. Plus, the prosecution team can violate your rights. That’s why you need a lawyer to protect your rights. He/she won’t allow anybody to intimidate you in court. He/she will fight off the DUI charges.
Your driving history
Did you know that DUI cases can impact your driving history? That’s why you need a lawyer to represent you and fight any chargesDon’t allow DUI charges to cancel your driving license. Hire a lawyer.
Other ways a DUI lawyer will help you
Additionally, a DUI lawyer will help you in the following ways:
- Question the reliability and authenticity of roadside alcohol tests
- Challenge the readings in the test
- Challenge the accuracy of the blood tests. He/she will try to discredit the tests and show how inaccurate they are.
- Challenge the charges leveled against you
Never drive while drunk
Driving is like operating any machinery. According to Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC, a renowned personal injury lawyer, you cannot operate any machinery while drunk. Alcohol always impairs your judgment. That’s why you are likely to cause accidents if you operate any machinery under the influence of alcohol. Avoid drunk driving with the above advice.
