Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous things you can ever do. And unfortunately, countless Tennesseans do it every year without fully recognizing the dangers of their actions. Studies show that drunk drivers get behind the wheel while intoxicated as many as 80 times before their first DUI arrest.
But many of those drivers wouldn’t consider themselves to be “drunk,” even though police officers would disagree. That’s because what’s considered “buzzed” for many drivers is actually full-on DRUNK—at least in the eyes of the law. Anyone with a blood alcohol content that’s 0.08% or above is considered drunk and can be arrested and charged with DUI if they get pulled over.
For most adults, that’s between two to three alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, or mixed drink. In some cases, it can be even less, especially when pours are generous or drinks are mixed stronger than expected. That means going out to dinner and having a few drinks and then driving home can put you at risk of a DUI, and for good reason. You may be more intoxicated than you think and a serious risk to yourself and others on the road.
To stay safe, simply don’t drink anytime you expect to drive or may even need to drive. You can also appoint a designated driver, use public transportation, or schedule a rideshare driver to pick you up and drop you off at home at the end of the night.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers work hard to protect injured drivers and their passengers, especially when they’re hurt by drunk and impaired motorists. Contact us today if you were hurt in a crash with a drunk driver.