The Effects Different Blood Alcohol Levels Can Have On Your Ability To Drive

We’ve all been out with a friend, colleague, or significant other and have heard something like, I’ve only had two drinks I am fine to drive.  We might have even said this ourselves, but did you know that just a two drinks can lead to a blood alcohol level that could impair your driving to the point where you may end up in a New Haven auto accident?  It’s true.

In Connecticut the legal blood alcohol limit is .08 or higher.  If you are given a breathalyzer test and you get .08 or higher you will run into issues with the law.  With that said, what happens BEFORE you get to the legal limit?  Your blood alcohol level can affect your ability to operate a car even before you reach the legal limit and it can have dramatic affects.

Take a look at the different levels of blood alcohol and how they impair your abilities;

• .02% – .039%: very little cognitive affect
• .04% – .059%: lower inhibitions, lower caution, impairment of judgement and memory
• .06% – .099%: impairment of balance, speech, and reaction time (note this is above the legal limit in Connecticut)
• .1% – .129%: significant impairment to judgement and motor skills, slurred speech and reduction in reaction time
• .13% – .159%: loss of physical control and gross motor abilities

The amount of alcohol it takes to these different levels of blood alcohol in your system varies based on your weight, the type of alcohol you’ve been drinking, whether you’re drinking on an empty stomach and so many more factors.  The truth is, there is no way to tell if you are at the legal limit when you get behind the wheel of a car.  The safest thing you can do to keep you and any passengers you might have from a New Haven auto accident is to designate a driver.

If you’ve been injured and believe you need someone to review your case, contact our office immediately.