One of the side effects of alcohol on the brain is the suppression or depression of the normal inhibitory, or control mechanism. It gives you a feeling of well being, and makes you feel capable of handling any situation, or machinery, even a motor car. It gives you a tremendous feeling of self-confidence, which is why we drink it. We no longer feel shy, and unable to cope in the group. You can dance in an uninhibited way and you think you look good. You tell jokes and think they are funny. You feel beautiful and smart.

However, another side effect is the suppression of muscle co-ordination and motor reflex. You no longer have feelings of caution, you don't worry about safety, and you have no self-control. You feel great, reckless, aggressive and careless.

Your reaction time after three drinks is impaired by 2 - 4 times. You experience tunnel vision, which means you do not notice things on the left or right. You have an inability to focus quickly. This means that the pupils of your eyes react very slowly to sudden changes of light, so that you are blinded by oncoming headlights. Night blindness is definitely increased. It is quite obvious that with these physical changes to the body, driving a car is very unwise. Apart from the fact that it is a criminal offence.

Drinking and driving IS A NO GO…. Alcohol impairs your ability to deal with more than one thing at a time. When driving, you have to deal with four or five things at a time. So don't drink and drive. 

• Alcohol may give you a feeling of wellbeing: actually it is a depressant, slowing down the processes in the brain.

• It lessens muscular control and co-ordination and lengthens reaction time

• It blurs vision and decreases awareness, especially in the dark

• It impairs ability to judge speed and distance, and to deal with the unexpected

• It impairs your judgement of how fit you are to drive, so that under the influence of alcohol, you may genuinely believe yourself to be driving better than you really are

All of these affect driving performance. The consequence is a higher risk of accident.

Legal Blood alcohol concentration = < 0,05g per 100ml.
Legal Breath alcohol concentration = < 0,24mg per 1000ml.

For Professional drivers these limits are different, and lower.

Blood alcohol concentration =  < 0,02g per 100ml
Breath alcohol concentration = < 0,10mg per 1000ml.

National Road Traffic Act Section 65 (2)says "No person shall on a public road drive a vehicle while the concentration of alcohol in any specimen of blood taken from his or her body is not less than 0,05gram(g) per 100ml"

Section 65(5)  "....  not less than 0,24milligrams(mg) per 1000 mls."

Young and inexperienced drivers or those who drink infrequently, are impaired well below the legal limit. 

REMEMBER:

• Elimination of alcohol cannot be speeded up: coffee may keep you awake, but it does not reduce the alcohol level.

• Self-testing shortly after drinking is not reliable.

DO YOU WEIGH 70 KGS OR MORE? If so this is what you may drink and still be under the legal limit:

2 normal glasses of beer (not Black Label!) 

OR

2 x 120ml glasses of wine.

OR

2 x 25ml tots of liquor.

If you weigh less than 70 kg this must be halved!

Don’t kid yourself, even one drink impairs your ability to drive a car.

·     In the 2^nd World War between 1939 – 1945 6,500 South African were killed – in 2007 18,000 South Africans were killed on our roads! Proportionately, South Africa kills 6 times as many people as the USA, Britain or Europe per 100 000 kms driven. 

·     There is no such thing as an accident - you don't get drunk by accident or drive recklessly by accident.

·     Drinking and driving is socially acceptable in South Africa. You have all been in a car with someone who has been drinking. If you want to drink, that’s your choice - don't get behind the wheel of a car when you have been drinking.

·     You always think it will not happen to you. It seems you have to experience it before you learn - buts it’s usually too late by then.

·    Facilities for Quadriplegics and brain damaged people are not good in this country. Perhaps those who die are the lucky ones.

·     When you have been drinking, you think you can handle it. How would you feel if you were responsible for killing someone?

·     Most of us think we can get away with it. Don't take the chance - its your life - you only live once.

·     Phone a loved one - they would rather receive a phone call saying you have been drinking than a phone call saying you are dead.

·    25,000 school leavers were injured in car accidents in 1999. 60% of car accidents are alcohol related and the majority of people killed on the roads are aged between 18 and 30.

·    The legal consequences of being under the influence of alcohol while driving are unpleasant to say the least….you will be put in a cell, perhaps with violent criminals. You will appear in court on the next working day, and if you cannot make bail, you will stay in jail until the court date comes up, which could be months.

·     If found guilty you could lose your licence, face a heavy fine or even a prison sentence of up to six years. At the very least, you could be sentenced to attending alcohol safety school to learn about drinking responsibly. Your name and conviction could be published in the papers, and the negative publicity could lose you your job.

Alcohol is, in reality, Ethanol which is a medically registered drug and is known as a central nervous system depressant.

• It is immediately absorbed into the blood stream

• It doesn’t need to be digested

• It reaches the brain within minutes

• It is fully absorbed in 15 minutes.

"Drink Driving is not an Accident. It is a Choice."

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink and Drive."