20th Safe & Sober Planner Operation ABC You Drink & Drive. You Lose. Call To Action Activities Guide Impaired Driving Blood Alcohol Concentration Zero Tolerance Repeat Offenders Program Brochure Resource Guide

Odds are you have been in a situation in which your friends, family members or even you, yourself have driven while impaired. Over the years, alcohol has become an accepted, even commonplace, fixture of holiday celebrations, sporting events and social get-togethers. So it is common that such situations arise, but they are easily avoided by choosing a designated driver or planning alternate modes of transportation. Unfortunately, too many people continue to drive while impaired, citing inconvenience, pride or embarrassment as excuses for their reckless behavior.

The simple fact of the matter is that driving while impaired is a crime. Last year alone, 15,935 fatalities were attributed to alcohol-related crashes, and in 1997, more than 1.5 million arrests were made of impaired drivers. To address this problem, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign, with the underlying goal of reducing the number of impaired driving fatalities to no more than 11,000 per year by the year 2005. By informing the public about the dangers associated with impaired driving, NHTSA hopes to educate individuals to make better, more life-affirming decisions about impaired driving.

What is BAC?
BAC is Blood Alcohol Concentration, or the amount of alcohol present in one’s blood system. BAC begins when an individual consumes even a minimal amount of alcohol, and increases exponentially with each drink consumed. BAC does not distinguish between "hard" liquor, wine or beer; any alcohol consumed will increase the BAC level within an individual.

How much is too much?
While individuals rarely possess the tools to determine their own BAC, law enforcement officials do, and will not hesitate to use them if they believe a driver to be impaired. BAC can vary with-in an individual, due to a number of physical and environmental factors, including, but not limit-ed to, height, weight, previous experience with alcohol and amount of food consumed prior to drinking. Because of the wide variance that exists between individuals, it is wise to make alternate travel plans or designate a driver, when even a minimal amount of alcohol is involved in any given situation.

At what BAC level does impairment begin?
Studies show that impairment begins at any BAC level over .00, and can affect an individual’s judgement and ability to react, factors that are critical to safe driving. While it is true that accepted BAC levels vary from state to state, to ensure the well-being of all those on the road, the only truly safe driving is sober driving.

Real change will not take place until the public recognizes that driving under the influence, at any BAC level, endangers the life of the driver, his/her passengers, and all those traveling on the road. The physical, emotional and economic burdens impaired drivers inflict upon the community each year are unparalleled. No matter how one looks at it, You Drink & Drive. You Lose.