Chapter 18 Driving Under the Influence 18-1 ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS A. Select the word or phrase that best completes each of the following sentences and write the letter in the space provided. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The alcoholic content of wine ranges from: a. 3% to 5%. b. 4% to 12%. c. 12% to 14%. d. 40% to 63%. BAC is a percentage measurement of the level of alcohol in your: a. blood. b. breath. c. urine. d. All of the above. Alcohol can effect driving at a BAC as low as: a. 0.02%. b. 0.05%. c. 0.08%. d. 0.10%. BAC is not determined by: a. the amount of food in your stomach. b. your body weight. c. the amount of alcohol you consume. d. the type of alcohol you drink. The body rids itself of alcohol through a process called: a. intoxication. b. oxidation. c. inhibition. d. synergism. Which of the following will help you sober up? a. Caffeine b. Time c. A cold shower d. All of the above In some people alcohol can cause an uncontrollable rapid vibration of the eye known as: a. double vision. b. tunnel vision. c. vibrillation. d. acuity inhibition. A person drinking alcohol will often get a sense of well-being, sometimes described as: a. inhibition. b. intoxication. c. hangover. d. euphoria. The greatest number of alcohol-related collisions result from: a. poor execution of physical skills. b. tunnel vision. c. dizziness and drowsiness. d. poor judgment. Stimulants adversely affect a person s ability to drive by making him or her: a. confused and irritable. b. drowsy. c. aggressive and overconfident. d. dizzy. B. How is BAC measured? 179
C. In the space provided, describe how each of the following variables affects BAC. 1. The amount of alcohol consumed: 2. The amount of time over which the alcohol was consumed: 3. The amount of food in your stomach: 4. Your body weight: 5. Whether the alcohol is mixed with a carbonated beverage: 6. Whether you are a man or woman: D. How does alcohol affect your vision? E. What effect does alcohol have on your physical reflexes and coordination? 180
F. Why would an alcohol-impaired driver be more likely to run a yellow light? G. How can taking OTC drugs affect your ability to drive safely? H. What is the synergistic effect? I. Complete each of the following sentences by writing the correct word or phrase in the space provided. 1. The strength of, or spirits, ranges from 20% to over 60% alcohol. 2. Your level of intoxication is determined by your. 3. After reaching a BAC of, your probability of a crash climbs rapidly. 4. have a higher tolerance to alcohol because their body contains a higher percentage of water. 5. You should never drive until you are absolutely sure that enough time has passed for your liver to the alcohol. 6. The combination of blurred and fixation on a narrow field ahead can result in tunnel vision. 7. Alcohol impairs your vision by as much as 25%. 8. are the elements of your personality that stop you from behaving without regard to possible consequences. 9. can slow a driver s reaction time, impair motor skills, and cause dimness of vision. 10. in the bloodstream can trigger what is called a synergistic effect. 181
J. CHECK IT OUT. Use the Internet to find an on-line intoximeter and enter your weight and gender. Select two different alcoholic beverages. In the space provided, indicate your estimated BAC for each drink consumed in a two-hour time period. Alcoholic Beverage: Alcoholic Beverage: Number of Drinks Estimated BAC Number of Drinks Estimated BAC 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 Go to the library or use the Internet to look up the following drugs. In the space provided, describe how each drug could impair your driving skills. Tranquilizers (Valium, Librium, Xanax): Barbiturates (Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal): Nonbarbiturate depressants (Doriden, Noludar, Quaalude): Rohypnol: Morphine and heroin: 182
Amphetamines (Biphetamine) : Dextroamphetamines (Dexedrine): Methamphetamines: Cocaine and crack: Naturally occurring hallucinogens (mescaline, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms): Synthesized hallucinogens (LSD, PCP, Special K ): Designer drugs (Fentanyl, Ecstasy): Herbal ecstasy: Inhalants: 183
18-2 PREVENTING DRUNK DRIVING A. Who is responsible for preventing drinking and driving? B. What are some of the signs that someone has had too much alcohol to drink? C. What is a designated driver? D. In the space provided, identify ten signs that a driver might be under the influence. E. What should you do if you identify a driver you believe to be under the influence? 184
F. CHECK IT OUT. Go to the library or use the Internet to find out what programs are available in your community to help prevent drinking and driving. In the space provided, write down what you discover. 18-3 THE LAW AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE A. With what will you be charged if you are arrested for driving under the influence? B. When can a law-enforcement officer arrest you for driving under the influence? C. If a law-enforcement officer suspects you of drunk driving, what tests will he or she ask you to perform? D. What will happen if you refuse to take a chemical test? 185
E. What are the penalties for a first-time conviction of driving under the influence? F. What will happen if you kill or injure someone as a result of drunk driving? G. What laws exist to discourage drinking and driving in your jurisdiction? H. What should you do if you are pulled over by the police? 186
I. CHECK IT OUT. Use the Internet to look up the latest annual national statistics on driving under the influence. 1. How many people were killed as a result of drunk driving? 2. What percentage of collisions were alcohol-related? 3. Which age group had the highest percentage of alcohol-related fatalities? 4. On which day did most alcohol-related fatalities occur? 5. At what time of day did most alcohol-related fatalities occur? 6. What percentage of drivers killed in alcohol-related crashes had a BAC over 0.10%? 7. How many people were arrested for driving under the influence? Use the Internet to look up the current laws on driving under the influence. 1. How many jurisdictions have an illegal BAC per se level of 0.08%? 0.10%? 2. Which jurisdiction has the longest license suspension period for refusing a chemical test? Jurisdiction: Length of suspension: 3. How many jurisdictions authorize a preliminary breath test as part of field sobriety testing? 4. Which jurisdiction has the longest license suspension as a criminal penalty for driving under the influence? Jurisdiction: Length of suspension: 5. How many jurisdictions have an open container law? 187
CROSSWORD PUZZLE: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Across 1. Will make you alert but not more sober 2. Stop you from misbehaving 6. Sign of drunk driver 7. Common side effect of OTCs 8. Most widely abused drug 12. Alcohol is this type of drug 14. Most common test for drunk driving Down 1. BAC limits are lower for these drivers 3. Time of most alcohol-related crashes 4. How body eliminates alcohol 5. Effect of mixing alcohol and drugs 9. Removes alcohol from body 10. Group with higher tolerance for alcohol 11. Factor that affects your BAC 13. Tolerance for underage drinking 14. Most accurate test of BAC 188