For those who decide to drink and then drive, they often confuse themselves with their condition. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake after drinking to say; “they aren’t drunk” and continue to get into their vehicle and drive away. You don’t have to be drunk to have a negative effect on you and society because of alcohol. You can be impaired without being drunk. This impairment from alcohol is intoxication.

The truth is any amount of alcohol can affect how you operate a vehicle. Being under the influence of alcohol, even slight, can affect your ability to make good judgment, react safely, and in some cases also affect your physical co-ordination. You never know how much you have weakened after you started drinking. You only know after it’s too late. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Intoxication is not the same as drunk. Intoxication refers to the condition of having physical or mental control lessened by the effects of alcohol or drugs. Although you can also be impaired by other means, such as distractions and fatigue, intoxication is strictly from alcohol and drugs. Making the decision if you’re intoxicated or drunk after drinking does not work. That’s because your thoughts may also be impaired. Having a plan to avoid driving after drinking should happen before drinking is always a good idea, but if that plan does not happen, what about having a back-up plan?

Knowledge is key to avoid impaired or intoxicated driving. No one needs to take that chance. If your plan is really to drive because you are a light drinker, ensure you have a single-use breathalyzer from Not Your Child Corp to use when you believe you’re sober again. This inexpensive device can ensure you’re making the proper and safe choice after a small amount of alcohol because even that small amount can influence your driving decisions and ability.

Here’s what you can do if you’re including alcohol for your meal or social experience. After the light beverage socializing or with your meal, about 15 to 20 minutes before you’re ready to leave, take the single-use breathalyzer from Not Your Child Corp and blow into it. This will let you know if you’re good to go or you need more time to wait. You can’t make that mistake. There are too many risks involved…and they aren’t all for you.

Many people grew up with the idea in their mind they could have one drink per hour. That’s not the case as many drinks may have more alcohol content in it compared to other drinks, plus everyone is a different size. Smaller people have less blood flowing throughout their body compared to larger people, so the concentration of blood-alcohol has a different ratio. Take the guesswork out of this.

It’s about being smart and responsible. Looking at the big picture before you drink alcohol is an important step. Make the single-use breathalyzers part of your big overall plan. As they say at Not Your Child Corp; “When you feel different, you drive different. Drive Sober”.

Scott Corner Blogs

Scott Marshall has spent over 30 years promoting road safety in many jurisdictions. He has been a road safety journalist since 2005. Scott was also an on-air judge on the Discovery Network’s Canada’s Worst Driver during their first 3 seasons on the air. Not YourChildCorp. is proud to have Scott @Safedriver as a frequent contributor, his insights are irreplaceable.