A Call to Awareness About Impaired Driving

December may be almost over, but the season of festivities is still going strong. And while this season is great for bringing people together, there remains a pressing concern that looms over the Arizona roads – the increased risk of drunk and drugged driving incidents. December is Drink and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and we wanted to be sure and do our part to raise awareness about this important issue. While incidents of impaired driving used to be most common in men between the ages of 21 and 35, this trend now sadly transcends across all people and all ages.

Nationwide, impaired driving deaths are responsible for about one-third of all traffic fatalities. Unfortunately, Arizona fares worse than the national average in this category: in 2021, impaired driving accounted for 36% of this state’s driving fatalities. In fact, Arizona ranks eighth in the nation of most alcohol-impaired driving deaths.

The consequences of driving while under the influence can be dire. Aside from the danger of fatality, impaired driving can result in a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge. And in Arizona, that is no small charge. Arizona is largely considered the strictest state for those receiving a first-time DUI. In this state, a DUI is recognized as a violent crime. The penalties for impaired driving can include thousands of dollars in fines, mandatory jail time, suspension of driving privileges, vehicle impoundment, and more. Arizona also has a zero-tolerance policy for those under the age of 21. If someone under the age of 21 is found with a blood alcohol content of anything over 0.00% they’ll be charged with a full DUI.

So why do people choose to get behind the wheel when impaired?

Given the dire consequences of driving while drunk or drugged, and given the wide availability of rideshare transportation, it seems illogical that someone would still choose to drive while impaired.

A few of the reasons people choose to drive impaired include:

- Having a false sense of security
  Intoxication can provide a boost of confidence and invincibility. Especially if someone has taken the chance and gotten away with driving while impaired before, they might believe they can do this with no consequences.
- Having a prideful ego
  For some people, having to arrange for an alternative ride home can feel embarrassing. If this describes you, next time you’re in that situation just imagine how “proud” you’ll be getting your license revoked, paying hefty fines, getting arrested, or seriously injuring someone. Remember that no one is asking you to prove your driving ability. Be smart and get a ride.
- Having altered perceptions
  Alcohol and recreational drugs, by their nature, impair us. When under the influence we can do or think things that we’d never even consider when sober. To put it simply: being un-sober does not cause us to be good judges on our sobriety. You may think your reaction times and reflexes are on point, when in reality they’re delayed and impaired.
- Not wanting the hassle
  Sure, it’s not as convenient to have to retrieve your vehicle from the party scene the next day. But, as we said before, this option is MUCH more convenient than experiencing the tough consequences after getting caught driving while impaired.

As we round out 2023, Fountain Hills Medical Center wants to make sure you’re as safe as you are merry. If you need help with addiction to alcohol or drugs, please let us know. We can help, or else refer you to someone who can. At the very least, make sound and safe choices when indulging so that your good time doesn’t end very, very badly.

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