It is unlikely that anybody begins her or his evening with plans to drive home while intoxicated. Drinking and driving is rarely a conscious intention, but unfortunately, it is still a common occurrence. A number of reasons exist as to why people drink and drive, but all of them can have the same consequences if you are charged with a DUI, or worse, if you hurt yourself or another driver.
According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, over 2,000 people are injured each year in crashes involving alcohol. This makes alcohol a leading cause of injury and death in the state. Consider the following reasons why this is so, and do not fall prey to any of these false justifications for intoxicated driving:
Unaware of inebriation
Many drunk drivers get behind the wheel because they are simply unaware of how inebriated they are. You might feel perfectly fine after a few drinks and not realize that your blood alcohol level is above that of the legal limit. It is important to pace yourself and reserve time to sober up after you drink. Otherwise, even if you do not feel drunk, you might find yourself charged with a DUI.
No designated driver
Choosing a designated driver is essential if you know that you will be drinking and need a ride home. Too many people fail to do this, or their designated driver is unreliable, and resort to driving after drinking. If there is no designated driver available, you should wait until you are sober before getting behind the wheel.
Denial of the risks
It is, unfortunately, true that some drivers simply deny the risk of drinking and driving. Some believe that they are immune to its dangers while others attempt to offset the risk by concentrating harder. No matter what, though, driving is dangerous if you are intoxicated. It is also illegal and liable to land you with criminal charges.
