New Data on Drinking and Driving

Between 600,000 and 1 million drunk driving arrests are made in the U.S. annually.

And close to 30% of all fatal car accidents involve a drunk driver.

Given the magnitude of the problem here and in Europe, researchers at Cambridge University were curious to know whether those who consume alcohol have the innate ability to know when their blood-alcohol levels have reached legal limits.

To conduct the study, published in Harm Reduction Journal, the research team studied 90 participants with an average age of 24. The group of 90 was divided in two – with an active study group and a control group.

Researchers gave both groups beer or wine until each individual's blood alcohol level reached 0.11%.

Those in the study group were told when they had exceeded the legal driving limit, set at 0.05% for this study (the U.S. and CT standard to drive legally is 0.08). The control group was not told when they had reached their limit.

The research team monitored blood-alcohol levels using breathalyzers tests. Each participant estimated their blood-alcohol levels after each test.

The study revealed several interesting facts.

First – 53% of the test subjects declared they had reached the legal limit well after they had exceeded that level on their breathalyzer test.

And not surprisingly, the research team also found that a participant's ability to judge their level of intoxication declined the more they drank.

The implications of the study are obvious. It seems likely that large numbers of drivers who drink are unable to reliably tell when they've had too much alcohol to drive. And that matters because determining fitness to drive after drinking is often left to individual drivers.

What does this all mean for you?

If you plan on drinking when away from your home or the place you're staying – don't drive. Instead, find a designated driver you can trust and give them your keys.

Never drink and drive.

If you or a loved one are ever in a car accident in Connecticut, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting people like you who've been injured in these accidents for over 65 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever injured in an accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut injury lawyers, please contact us. There is no obligation.