When a drunk person gets in a car and decides to drive, do they know that they’re too drunk? Or do they think that they’re sober enough to drive safely?
Of course, the reality is that both things happen. Some people decide to risk it, knowing it’s dangerous but hoping they can get home safely. Others are unaware of how drunk they are and do not think it is a risk. Some may know that they are drunk but even go so far as to insist that they are “good” drunk drivers.
For those who decide to take the risk anyway, there is little to be done in many cases. They know it’s a risk. They do not care enough about that risk to get a ride from someone else. They’re going to take that chance, and the only way to reduce accident numbers is strict DUI enforcement.
For others, though, it can be helpful to educate them regarding signs of impairment and how they can know if they are too drunk to drive or not. For instance, some use phone apps that track their eye movements. Others use portable breath tests. Some attempt to perform field sobriety tests, such as walking in a straight line.
These gauges are not relevant in court, of course, but they can let you see if you are physically impaired, regardless of how drunk you feel. That can be eye-opening when deciding if you should drive or not.
Unfortunately, even if you don’t drive drunk, others will. If you get injured in an accident, be sure you know what options you have.