Sobriety Check Shows Even a Drink or Two Affects Driving

[The Straight Story]

Sobriety Check Shows Even a Drink or Two Affects Driving
Written for the web by C. Johnson, Internet News Producer


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Karen Massie's Report
As law enforcement agencies around the state begin an 18-day crackdown on drinking and driving, many might be surprised to learn how little alcohol it takes to impair one's driving ability.

On Friday some well-known Sacramento area faces engaged in a demonstration to learn how one or more alcoholic drinks affect them. One of those who participated was David LaBahn of the California District Attorneys Association. He has prosecuted drunk drivers in two counties, but today he got the opportunity to experience the effects of alcohol on driving ability.

LaBahn imbibed a couple of glasses of wine and then was given a field sobriety test. With his blood alcohol content measuring .04 percent, half the legal limit for driving, LaBahn was still affected. "I could tell that he was under the influence a little bit," said Sgt. Evan Williams of the California Highway Patrol. "He had a little bit of a difficult time touching his finger to his nose, especially with his left hand when he touched his lip."

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=14846

[Warpy]

1. This is why we need to lower the drinking age and raise

the driving age. I can tell you from personal experience that a 14 year old kid restricted to a bicycle is not going to last long under the illusion that a beer or two improves his driving, the way so many DUI types claim. There's nothing like road rash from falling off multiple times to convince you that alcohol screws up your balance, timing and reflexes.

Kids here generally start their drinking at or after the time they get the driver's license. There is no way to keep alcohol out of a kid's hands, and again, I'm proof of that. The best bet is to stop them from getting behind the wheel of a one ton weapon until they know what alcohol is going to do to them.

What we're doing now sure doesn't work.

[nosmokes]

2. field sobriety tests are designed for failure

i'm an alcoholic/addict with few years sober now, and i got no truck with drunk drivers, but field tests cannot be passed by the huge majority of the population when stone sober. and i recall watching one of those *news* shows, 60 minutes or 20/20 or one of them, and driving performance actually improved after one drink, only to tank rapidly with continued consumption.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

4. What the??? You got a link or a stat or something on this...

"...field tests cannot be passed by the huge majority of the population when stone sober."

[bahrbearian]

15. Quickly ,,Recite the alphabet Z to A

[A-Schwarzenegger]

17. Uhhh ...

ABCDEFGHJKMLNMOPRQSTUVWXYA

[Nikia]

18. I know that I'll be able to pass that test even if really drunk

At work, I letter my sample dishes in reverse alphabetical order so A will be on top.
On the otherhand, I don't know if I would be able to perform some of the other tests as well. I have anxiety disorders and be pulled over and asked to perform tests would certainly send me into panic.

[Jed Dilligan]

3. DUI is when a cop says so

just like most other "laws" in this country.

[Warpy]

5. That's why you INSIST on a serum alcohol test

if some cop says you've failed a field sobriety or breathalyzer test.

It could be the difference between conviction or acquittal.

Of course, if you're blotto, it'll just confirm the worst.

[Jed Dilligan]

9. You're right about that

I've actually seen them back down from the whole damned thing--saw it with my own eyes. My gf kept holding out for the blood test, and eventually they just dropped the whole thing. Boy, they sure must've thought she was a risk to public safety after one goddamned drink... :sarcasm:

I say, if our cities are so damned broke, more taxes... less fines and fees.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. Theyre just robbing us of our rights left and right.

Unless I'm mistaken, the right to drink & drive is in the Constitution somewhere.

[Jed Dilligan]

8. Don't put words in my mouth.

If you look at the California Vehicle Code, you will see that a DUI is either when your alcohol is .08+, OR when a police officer feels you aren't okay to drive. This isn't an issue of rights, it's an issue of individual officers being given too much discretion. Most people will abuse any unnecessary power they are given, and cops are NO exception.

If you think .04's a DUI, that's fine. Change the criteria. I just think it's stupid for the system to trust everyone who's willing to don a blue suit.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. I'm sorry if you've had DUIs where you were only half-drunk.

Those damn cops, takin' away all our fun.

[Jed Dilligan]

12. Great, accuse me of shit

Instead of answering my REAL concerns. You aren't a cop by any chance are you?

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NorCalDem]

16. Ding Ding Ding!

We have a winner!

[Jed Dilligan]

19. Funny how people can be outraged

that the president is spying on Americans, yet turn a blind eye to "everyday" unconstitutionality... all in the name of "public safety."

I was accused of being a drunk driver in this thread because I questioned the amount of authority given to cops on this issue. By this logic, everyone here who questions the president must be a terrorist.

Oh, and I forgot--everyone who supports changing drug policy is an addict.

Cops in America today are overarmed and overpaid as well as having too much power. I'm not afraid to say it and say it loud. And any "democratic" cop who wanders in here to flame at me for saying it, I invite you to inform me: what did you do on your last shift? How much did you get paid? And how is the world a better place now?

[ixion]

7. yeah, stress affects driving, too

but you don't see them outlawing that. :eyes:

[Jed Dilligan]

10. I've noticed that having a W sticker

makes people drive like an asshole. Oh wait, they are assholes, and that's why they have the sticker. Chicken/egg thing.

[Greyhound]

14. Why don't they mention the other thousand things that also impair

your driving ability (assuming you have any to begin with). The insurance industry has studied this exhaustively for decades and has found that basically everything you do say and hear diminishes your capacity in an emergency situation. An extremely short list;
drinking (non-alcoholic)
eating
applying makeup
listening to the radio
talking on the phone
conversing in the car
rubber-necking
hair brushing and general grooming
transporting children in the car
listening to music...

Bottom line is it's too easy to get a drivers license and there is no real training available that will help you in the inevitable emergency situation.