Driving Under the Influence

There once was a time when it was common and completely legal to drive an automobile while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Things are now different and we all know the hazards involved with drinking and driving. Despite the known risks there are still traffic accidents every year involving driving under the influence (DUI).

There are also other terms commonly used such as driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, and impaired driving. Any of these names can be used to describe the operating of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Substances including prescription medications can impair one’s ability to operate a car safely and therefore you should not drive while intoxicated. Many drugs can slow reaction time, change thought patterns, and can obstruct a person’s vision making it very dangerous to drive.

Impaired driving is a consistent problem that has many negative consequences that it contributes towards. For one, it increases the chance of being in an automobile accident significantly and therefore contributes to more injuries and deaths. This in turn raises auto insurance rates.

Driving while under the influence is illegal almost every country in today’s society. However, there is often a legal limit imposed in most places which protects those who use alcohol responsibly. This limit is measured by the content of alcohol in a person’s system and varies depending on location. Contact an insurance agent near you to find out what the limit is in your province or state.

The penalties if a person is convicted of driving under the influence can result in serious time in prison and large fines, particularly for repeat offenders. Drunk drivers are involved in many fatal collisions and sometimes fatally injure other automobile drivers on the roads as well. It is for the severity of the consequences that laws are often strict.

There are preventative measures that have been taken into place over the past years including roadside sobriety checkpoints. Other programs such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have helped to bring awareness of the issue. As a result of programs like these, there is evidence of a decrease in intoxicated drivers.

Driving under the influence is another factor that increases auto insurance rates. Car insurance companies make large payouts every year for incidents involving substance abuse. As a result they are forced to raise insurance premiums to cover the expenses.