How do decide what is your drinking limit when driving?

[DrPizza]

Over how much of a time span? Would you consider it impaired driving if someone downed a 6-pack from 11am to 3pm, then drove a car at 6pm? I'd think that their BAC would be about 0 in that instance.

 

[TheGardener]

Why exactly would you include this as an authority on physiology?

They are an authority because they are trained to identify those drivers who are under the influence, whether they use a breathalyzer or not. They also have the power of arrest. I would think that would be obvious. But no problem, I'm glad to help you out.

 

[TheGardener]

The sanctimonious "drink or drive" people are hilarious. Probably the same bitches that freak out if they smell a faint whiff of cigarette smoke.

Apparently you haven't had a relative or close friend who died or was seriously injured in a car accident, caused by someone DUI. I'm glad for you. Given how widespread this problem remains, it should not be surprising how many people still haven't gotten the message.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Zero when I'm on the motorcycle. Maybe 1-2 beers max over the course of the course of 1.5-2 hours or so if I'm cagin' it.

You drunks are why I rarely ride at night.

 

[JEDIYoda]

besides having diplomatic immunity my chauffeur does not drink. Thus he is the designated driver!!

 

[Muse]

For me it's zero, not because I'm a lousy driver or not careful, I am those things. But driving is just plain dangerous and it's more dangerous if you've had a drink, so I don't. Avoiding accidents is in large part reacting to changing conditions. Your reaction times (if nothing else) are worse if you've got alcohol in your blood.

 

[DrPizza]

For me it's zero, not because I'm a lousy driver or not careful, I am those things. But driving is just plain dangerous and it's more dangerous if you've had a drink, so I don't. Avoiding accidents is in large part reacting to changing conditions. Your reaction times (if nothing else) are worse if you've got alcohol in your blood.

Try this test a few different days to establish a baseline. Then, have one light beer. I really doubt your reaction time is going to change at all, if you're a normal sized male.
https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/redgreen.html

 

[Captante]

Driving a car: 2 "normal-potency" drinks *(1 oz alcohol equiv)

Riding a Motorcycle: Not one drop

 

[vi edit]

For me it's zero, not because I'm a lousy driver or not careful, I am those things. But driving is just plain dangerous and it's more dangerous if you've had a drink, so I don't. Avoiding accidents is in large part reacting to changing conditions. Your reaction times (if nothing else) are worse if you've got alcohol in your blood.

If given the choice, I'd rather a person get behind a wheel after one beer than have a cell phone in the car. To me that is a much greater risk than a single drink.

 

[edro]

Dinner on empty stomach - 1 beer or wine
Event after dinner, 1 per hour

I'm not so worried about hurting myself or others because I know I am super alert while driving, especially after a drink or two.
I am more worried about the .08% level from police and how bad a DUI would be.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Apparently you haven't had a relative or close friend who died or was seriously injured in a car accident, caused by someone DUI. I'm glad for you. Given how widespread this problem remains, it should not be surprising how many people still haven't gotten the message.

How many drinks do you suppose the driver had that killed/injured somebody?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Over how much of a time span? Would you consider it impaired driving if someone downed a 6-pack from 11am to 3pm, then drove a car at 6pm? I'd think that their BAC would be about 0 in that instance.

Basically this. It's like saying a DD can't drink. Sure they can. If you're going to be at an event for 6 hours and they have a beer or two in the first couple of hours then no problem.

 

[destrekor]

How many drinks do you suppose the driver had that killed/injured somebody?

I'll risk saying this much:

I don't think a handful of drinks for 99% of the population is going to do much if anything.

The ones who cause suffering or damage, were not simply a tad tipsy. They were blitzed, in almost all cases.

In other cases, I wager the accident was simply one of the standard stupid driver decisions that, again, is the norm for 99% of the population. Which is to say, I bet alcohol had zero impact. What they did was caused by bad driving or decision making, period, and they merely got tested for and blew over 0.08 and got charged for that. Most people simply can't drive very well, and I really don't think a few drinks (for those who are accustomed to alcohol) changes a damn thing.

I suspect a significant number of the worst DUI cases were all at black-out levels.

But, MADD wins, every time, so... it's a rather moot point.

To be a good person and not have a drop to drink or limit it to the one drink/one hour (average) conversion rate, that's simply being a good person.
But I don't think it is fair to cry foul of those who have no more than, say, a six-pack worth (of standard beer, not 10% brews ) of alcohol over the course of, say, 3 hours, because I seriously doubt it impacts their driving performance and reaction time.

I'm not arguing it is a good thing or right or laws must be changed (though, I might agree on BAC levels being adjusted higher - but driving tests should be significantly more challenging. It is a privilege after all, not a right... but I digress). Rather, I think statistics might prove that the situation is different than many might suspect.

I'd love to find a way to prove this theory of mine, but... I don't this it is possible.

But let's put it this way: I doubt there are many accidents that have happened, someone blew over, and it was noted, "Alcohol was not a factor."

However, if anyone can chime in, I am curious about the following: if someone is in an accident, and based on the situation Driver A is sober, but the officer determines he is at fault, would Driver B have BAC tested if the officer caught a whiff of alcohol or something?

 

[DCal430]

What about wine tastings? When you go wine tasting, you get about 2 oz each of 4 or more wines. After 3 wineries you are looking at the equivalent of 4 or more glasses of wine. You expect someone to drive everyone else around and not participate too?

 

[ControlD]

Dinner on empty stomach - 1 beer or wine
Event after dinner, 1 per hour

I'm not so worried about hurting myself or others because I know I am super alert while driving, especially after a drink or two.
I am more worried about the .08% level from police and how bad a DUI would be.

Pretty much this.

I wonder how accurate those pocket BAC testers are? I don't do much drinking and driving, but I also have no idea how many Yuengling Lights it takes to get to .08 either. Might be a good thing to know.

 

[GeekDrew]

However, if anyone can chime in, I am curious about the following: if someone is in an accident, and based on the situation Driver A is sober, but the officer determines he is at fault, would Driver B have BAC tested if the officer caught a whiff of alcohol or something?

Yes.

 

[GeekDrew]

Pretty much this.

I wonder how accurate those pocket BAC testers are? I don't don't much drinking and driving, but I also have no idea how many Yuengling Lights it takes to get to .08 either. Might be a good thing to know.

This, exactly. I don't have any concept of how many beers equals 0.08 for me. One? A dozen? I suspect that most people don't have an accurate idea, even if they think they do.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Pretty much this.

I wonder how accurate those pocket BAC testers are? I don't don't much drinking and driving, but I also have no idea how many Yuengling Lights it takes to get to .08 either. Might be a good thing to know.

No idea how accurate this really is but I plugged in 6 beers, 6 hours, 185 pounds and it returned .02. Not surprised.

http://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/

Apparently that was calculating 'beer'. Changing it to 'lite beer' nets a result of .00. Again not surprised I guess since it's likely assuming ~4.0% vs. ~6.0%.

 

[destrekor]

Yes.

I thought so. I forgot to add:

Would he be charged with DUI even though without the accident in which he had no fault, he would not have been pulled over in the first place?

Would he be charged with fault for the accident, even?

I am probably out of my league here in interpretation of laws, but, I can't help but feel an over-limit BAC test for the second driver would be an unlawful test. I wonder if that's when a good attorney comes into play?

 

[GeekDrew]

I thought so. I forgot to add:

Would he be charged with DUI even though without the accident in which he had no fault, he would not have been pulled over in the first place?

Would he be charged with fault for the accident, even?

I am probably out of my league here in interpretation of laws, but, I can't help but feel an over-limit BAC test for the second driver would be an unlawful test. I wonder if that's when a good attorney comes into play?

Questions about what /would/ happen are difficult, because it varies, cop to cop. In some places (all?), you don't even have to be driving or have been driving. Merely sitting in a vehicle with the keys would be sufficient to charge you with DUI/OMVI/etc.

I can't think of any way to say that it would be unlawful.

 

[ControlD]

No idea how accurate this really is but I plugged in 6 beers, 6 hours, 185 pounds and it returned .02. Not surprised.

http://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/

Apparently that was calculating 'beer'. Changing it to 'lite beer' nets a result of .00. Again not surprised I guess since it's likely assuming ~4.0% vs. ~6.0%.

Cool. Thanks for the link.

 

[ControlD]

​

Questions about what /would/ happen are difficult, because it varies, cop to cop. In some places (all?), you don't even have to be driving or have been driving. Merely sitting in a vehicle with the keys would be sufficient to charge you with DUI/OMVI/etc.

I can't think of any way to say that it would be unlawful.

I work with a guy here in Ohio that got a DUI for sleeping in his car after he had a few too many. He had his keys in his pocket and that was enough to charge him. Seems like a bunch of BS, but that's the law.

 

[destrekor]

Pretty much this.

I wonder how accurate those pocket BAC testers are? I don't don't much drinking and driving, but I also have no idea how many Yuengling Lights it takes to get to .08 either. Might be a good thing to know.

I do want to get a portable BAC tester. I'd love to know.

Besides even just knowing for average nights what it would be, it would really be useful to test in the car before driving back home or whatever. If it hits too high, done, you just call Uber or a cab.

Plus, you can't discount how variable the BAC will be. How much food did you have in your stomach while drinking? That will vary wildly. Any medications or recent specific food items that interact with the digestive enzymes necessary for alcohol? Do you smoke, infrequently or frequently?

So many things impact the rate of absorption and metabolism.

 

[TheGardener]

Over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Crime in the United States: 2013”

Statistic from MADD. http://www.madd.org/statistics/

 

[Fenixgoon]

​

I work with a guy here in Ohio that got a DUI for sleeping in his car after he had a few too many. He had his keys in his pocket and that was enough to charge him. Seems like a bunch of BS, but that's the law.

i know in maryland, if your keys are in the ignition - even if the engine is not running - you can be charged with a DUI.