There are some drunk drivers who are virtually unaware of what they’re doing behind the wheel. They may not even remember the drive. There are people who cause accidents and their last memory is walking out of the bar or club, but they don’t recall driving their vehicle at all.
At the same time, there are other drivers who have been drinking, but aren’t so severely impaired. They may think that they’re just slightly buzzed and that it’s safe for them to drive. The risk with these drivers is that their reaction times can still be much slower.
Why does this happen?
Alcohol slows down reaction times simply because it is a central nervous system depressant. It slows down all of your body’s processes. Your brain doesn’t take in or analyze information as quickly, and you’re slower to make connections. You may get there eventually, but you’re not as sharp and focused as you would be if you were sober.
For example, a buzzed driver may see taillights ahead of them, but it takes them an extra second to realize that traffic is slowing down and those drivers are hitting their brakes. By the time they do make this realization, there’s no longer enough space for them to slow down and stop their own vehicle before they cause a rear-end crash. They are still relatively in control of their vehicle and aware of what they’re doing, but the slower reaction times and slower physical reflexes mean that they can’t avoid a crash—when the exact same situation wouldn’t even have been a risk if they were sober.
This is just one of the reasons that drunk drivers cause serious accidents. Those who have been injured need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and more.