According to The Century Council (Distilleries Fighting Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking), in 2010, there were over 10,000 deaths in the United States that resulted from alcohol impaired drivers. More than 1,000 of these deaths were caused by underage drinkers. The fact is that when you are under the influence of alcohol, you may think you are driving normal, when in reality, you are not.
What most people fail to understand is how much driving under the influence can impact their own lives and the lives of others. The alcohol you drink may leave you feeling brave and courageous. It may lead you to believe that you can do anything, including driving a vehicle. You fail to realize that when you are drunk and you decide to drive that your vehicle becomes a deadly weapon.
Financial Aspects of a DUI
The financial aspects of an arrest for DUI are enormous. First and foremost, you may lose your license and be unable to get to work. In fact, if your job requires you to drive, you may lose your job permanently. Furthermore, a DUI is going to result in a high fine. Along with a suspended license and fines, you may also have to pay for an attorney.
Personal Results of a DUI
You will also find that there are a lot of personal problems that can result from you being arrested for DUI. The loss of a job or the loss of friends could happen to you. Along with this, you may find it difficult to get hired anywhere or find someone that wants to spend the rest of their life with someone who has this on their driving record. There is no doubt that your decision to drink and drive will have an effect on your personal life, whether it is in your personal relationships or your professional relationships.
Emotional Aspects of a DUI Accident
There are also great emotional ramifications to deal with you drink and drive. This is especially true if you cause an accident and injure or kill someone. Dealing with the fact that you caused harm to another and their family is one of the worst things that could happen. Additionally, knowing that you could have prevented this from happening will continue to chase your thoughts for the rest of your life. All of this could happen because of the decision you made to drive when you were drunk.
Practice Safety When Drinking
Preventing yourself from drinking and driving is the most important step you can take in your own life and for the lives of others. You must practice safety when drinking. The legal limit in every state is a.08 blood alcohol level. Everyone needs to know that this number is simply a legal guideline. You can take control and make the decision to never drive after you have been drinking. Even if it took you four drinks to reach the legal limit, making it a point to not drive after you have had just one drink is the best way to practice safety when drinking.
The next time you are out and are having a drink, think about the effects the alcohol is having on you. The above consequences are just a small portion of what could happen to you if you were to receive a DUI or, even worse, cause an accident because of your poor decision.
This article was contributed by Tulsa DUI lawyer Zach Smith to promote safe drinking practices.