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Drink Driving: Understanding the Effects of Alcohol on Your Driving

Unless you’re a novice driver who just got your license, chances are that driving is just another mundane task for you. But if you really think about it, driving is pretty complicated. You need to be on high alert, have good coordination, fast reflexes and be able to make split-second judgements when needed. With so much responsibility riding on the driver, it is not surprising that any slack on the driver’s part can lead to disastrous results.

Drink Driving Penalties in NSW

Drink Driving is a serious offence in NSW. The police have adopted a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to Drink Driving. Offenders, including first timers, may have their license suspended and will cop a $572 fine. Repeat, high-range and other serious offenders must have an interlock installed in their vehicle, along with a license disqualification period. The length of the interlock and license disqualification period will vary, depending on how serious the offence was.

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Driving?

The effects of alcohol on your driving can include:

  • Delayed reaction time – Alcohol can slow down your reflexes and decrease your ability to react quickly. It also adversely affects your ability to gauge speed and your distance from other cars or pedestrians on the road.
  • Impaired vision – Alcohol can result in blurred vision and altered visual perception. This is turn can affect your ability to see details such as pavements, potholes and movement in your periphery vision.
  • Reduced concentration – It is a well-known fact that alcohol can reduce your concentration, making you a less attentive and highly dangerous driver.
  • False sense of confidence – Ever gotten drunk and acted out of character? That’s because alcohol has the tendency to lower our inhibitions and give us a false sense of confidence. Combine that with an increased risk-taking tendency and a false sense of invincibility and it’s a recipe for disaster.

NSW Drink Driving Statistics That Will Give You the Chills

  • 30% of all Drink Driving accidents occur on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
  • 90% of drink drivers involved in fatal accidents are male.
  • 25% of drink drivers in fatal accidents are aged between 30 to 39.
  • 20% of all fatal accidents in NSW are a result of Drink Driving.

A Quick Look at Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

BAC refers to the percentage of alcohol found in a person’s blood stream.

  • 0.05 BAC reading: If you get a reading of 0.05, it means you’re at double the risk of having a driving accident.
  • 0.08 BAC reading: You are seven times more likely to have an accident behind the wheel.
  • 0.15 BAC reading: Your risk of having an accident shoot up exponentially, making you 25 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

When you look at all the available Drink Driving statistics, it becomes clear that no amount of alcohol consumption, no matter how low, is safe for driving. So, if you’re planning to get drunk, make sure you have a designated driver to take you home – or call a cab.

If you’ve been charged with a Drink Driving Offence, getting the help of an experienced Drink Driving Lawyer Sydney is important. Platinum Lawyers are qualified Drink/Drug Driving Lawyers who can help you achieve the best possible result.

Get in touch with us today on (02) 8084 2764

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