If you are wondering, “Am I too drunk to drive?” the chances are that you should probably not take the risk. There are many factors that can contribute to a person’s level of intoxication. However, the debate on whether or not it’s safe to drive should be up to you. Only you know when you’re intoxicated. The bottom line is that if you’re in doubt, you should get a ride home elsewhere. If you want a rough idea on how to know when to call a cab, keep track of drinks. You can also look for classic signs of drunkenness. And finally, you can purchase a portable breathalyzer if you want to be absolutely certain. It’s never worth the risk, but if you’ve been drinking and feel you are not intoxicated, read on to find out ways to be sure.
Am I Too Drunk to Drive? Know Your Limit When Consuming Alcohol
When in Question: Don’t
The bottom line when it comes to wondering if you’re too drunk to drive: if there is any doubt, don’t do it. Saving a few bucks in cab or Uber fare is never worth the cost of a DUI. In addition, you could harm yourself or others if you get into a car accident. If there is any doubt whatsoever, play it safe and find another way home. You may have to leave your car at the bar and come back the next day. But it’s still the better decision for you and everybody else on the road.
Keep Track of Drinks
If you have been drinking but do not feel at all intoxicated, then you can use other means to determine if you’re too drunk to drive. One way is to keep track of how many drinks you’ve had over the course of the night. The general rule of thumb is that if you stick to just one drink an hour, you probably won’t get inebriated. However, there is a multitude of factors that can affect this. The type of drink you choose, your height, weight, body composition, and gender can all play a role. In addition, your drinking habits can have a huge effect on how alcohol affects you. For example, if you rarely ever drink, even a small amount of alcohol could render you too intoxicated to drive. Even if technically, your blood alcohol level is below the legal limit for driving.
Signs of Drunkeness
Looking for classic signs of inebriation is another way to know if you’re too drunk to drive. If your eyes are blurry or your speech is difficult to control, you probably have had too much to drink. In addition, if you are having trouble walking straight or smell like alcohol, it’s time to call a cab. One way to do a quick field test is to lean your head back and try to touch the tip of your nose with the pointer finger of both hands several times. If you miss your nose, your coordination is off and you should not drive.
Breathalyzer
Finally, one way to determine if you are too drunk to drive is to use a personal breathalyzer test. You can find personal use testers that you blow into to calculate your blood alcohol level. However, it’s important to note that these are not always accurate. If a police officer gave you a breathalyzer test right afterward, it could register different numbers. In addition, you can try a number of websites and apps designed to help you keep track of drinks and determine soberness.
The bottom line of course is that if you have any doubts on whether you’re too drunk to drive, you shouldn’t drive. Only you know how alcohol affects your body. However, if you have been drinking and do not feel intoxicated at all, try to remember every drink you’ve had. You can also examine yourself for signs of inebriation. Finally, you could invest in a portable breathalyzer to test your blood alcohol content. Remember that none of these ways is 100% accurate or foolproof. The only way to be absolutely sure that you are not too drunk to drive is to either refrain from drinking entirely or catch a ride elsewhere.
