Summer is at its height in Seattle, and many people have spent the past couple months celebrating holidays, going to parties and heading on vacation. These are all times where drinking alcohol is common, which sadly leads to an annual uptick in drunk driving accidents.
DUI accidents in Washington
The number of DUI accidents in Washington has been on the upswing since 2009. So far in 2023, there have been approximately 5,600 DUI removals. Of all 750 driving fatalities in Washington in 2022, approximately 50% involved drunk drivers.
Do you know when you are impaired?
Most people drink responsibly if they plan on driving or do not drink at all if they know they will later get behind the wheel of a car. Still, it can be difficult at times to understand your own level of impairment.
It is general knowledge that a person with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 is legally intoxicated and cannot safely drive. A person with a BAC at or above the legal limit has likely lost motor control, is experiencing difficulty with perception and cognition, and cannot exercise good judgment. It is easy to see why this level of impairment can lead to a car crash.
Still, even having a BAC below the legal limit can affect our bodies. It only takes a few drinks to feel relaxed, which could make it more difficult to concentrate. Moreover, after a few drinks, we might find our coordination and reaction time have slowed, even though we are not legally intoxicated.
As you can see, even having a BAC below the legal limit can impair a driver’s senses, which could lead to a drunk driving accident. It is important for motorists in Washington to keep an eye on their drinking this summer, to avoid having a good time end in tragedy.