Despite the fact that it’s illegal to drive drunk, one person was killed every 52 minutes in a drunk driving crash on our nation’s roads in 2019. That's a total of 10,142 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in one year. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect a person quickly; for example, a blood alcohol concentration of .02 can affect someone’s ability to perform two tasks at one time.

Be Responsible: Have a Plan

Your life and the lives of others on the road are at risk every time a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking. Here are a few tips to stay safe.

• Before drinking, choose a designated driver, or schedule a ride-sharing, ride-hailing or taxi service.
• If you are hosting a party where there’s alcohol, offer non-alcoholic drink options and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
• Always wear your seat belt — it's the best defense against drunk drivers.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, safely pull over and call law enforcement.

The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration

Alcohol consumption impairs your thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination — all vital to operating a vehicle safely. You begin to feel the effects of alcohol at a BAC under .08.