Wondering if you are safe to drive? Or is it best to just call a cab? If you’ve been out drinking, getting behind the wheel while still intoxicated can be a serious crime and can cause a deadly accident. It’s important to know when you cross the line and are too drunk to drive. You can do the math and calculate how many drinks you’ve had in what amount of time. This should give you some idea. You can also do field sobriety tests to test your reflexes. A personal breathalyzer is useful if you want to double-check your blood alcohol level. But the bottom line is that if you are even in doubt, it’s best to get a cab. There’s no sense in risking getting into an accident or getting a DWI. Only you know how you feel and what your personal limit is.
Am I Safe to Drive? When to Call a Cab and When It’s Ok to Get Behind the Wheel
Do the Math
One way to see if you’re safe to drive is to do the math of how many drinks you’ve had in how long a time span. This should only be used as a baseline though. You can find online calculators to help you but you must make sure you account for every single drink you’ve had. You’ll enter in the number of drinks and the timespan and get an estimate of your blood alcohol level. However, remember that this is not very accurate and many factors can affect these numbers. For instance, the stiffness of the drinks, your own body composition, your history with alcohol, and what you’ve eaten. So the bottom line is that if you’re in doubt, get a cab.
Field Tests
Another way to determine if you’re safe to drive is to perform field sobriety tests. These are similar to what cops do if they pull you over. You can try standing on one foot or walking in a straight line. One test that officers often do is a walk and turn where you walk heel to toe in a straight line for nine steps while counting them out loud. Keep your arms down by your sides and see if you get off balance, can’t stay straight, or have to use your arms to balance. Again, though, the bottom line is that if you feel at all drunk, it’s best to take a cab.
Personal Breathalyzer
You can purchase personal breathalyzers online to see if you’re safe to drive. These of course range hugely in terms of accuracy. They are similar to the breathalyzers that police officers use which test the blood alcohol content in your breath. Keep in mind that these are not entirely accurate, so even if you technically blow under a .08, you could still get pulled over and blow over the line with a cop. If you are at all close to the legal limit, don’t risk it.
Better Safe than Sorry
Finally, the bottom line on figuring out whether or not you’re safe to drive is to just not risk it. If you’re having to question whether or not you’re ok to drive, you probably aren’t. Any amount of fogginess can result in a horrible car accident. In addition, you could cause an accident with somebody else on the road. Then you’d be responsible for any injuries to them. And of course, a DWI or DUI can be incredibly expensive and will go on your record. If you’re even in doubt, even the slightest bit, don’t risk it. Uber and Lyft are so easy to get these days, and you’ll be safe knowing that you’ve made the right choice.
Driving under the influence is incredibly dangerous for not only you but everybody else on the road around you. In addition, it can result in huge legal fines and a DWI on your record. If you are wondering if you’re safe to drive, it’s best to just be safe and call a cab. However, if you really think you’re sober enough to drive, calculate how many drinks you’ve had and how long it’s taken. Do a few field sobriety tests and make sure you don’t waiver at all. Or purchase a personal breathalyzer test to double-check that you are well below the limit. The bottom line though is that if you’re ever in doubt, it’s best to take a cab. There is nothing worth risking a drunk driving accident or DWI.
