One of the most dangerous and pervasive myths surrounding driving under the influence is the false sense of confidence that an individual can still "drive okay" despite being impaired by alcohol or drugs. This dangerous belief often stems from a subjective feeling of being in control or a misjudgment of one's actual capabilities.

However, the reality is that even small amounts of impairing substances can significantly degrade the critical skills necessary for safe driving, particularly reaction time and judgment.

This blog aims to debunk this perilous myth by explaining in general terms how alcohol and drugs affect these vital functions, regardless of an individual's perceived level of sobriety. Understanding these effects is crucial for dispelling the illusion of being able to "drive okay" while impaired and for reinforcing the absolute necessity of always driving sober.

The Deceptive Nature of Perceived Sobriety

The feeling of being "okay to drive" after consuming alcohol or drugs is often a deceptive illusion created by the very substances that impair cognitive functions. This disconnect between perceived and actual ability arises due to several factors:

  • Impaired Self-Assessment:Alcohol and drugs dull the senses and cloud judgment, making it difficult for individuals to accurately assess their own level of impairment. They may genuinely believe they are functioning adequately when their reaction time, coordination, and decision-making are significantly compromised.
  • The "Buzz" vs. Impairment:Some individuals may equate a mild "buzz" with minimal impairment, failing to recognize that even low levels of alcohol or drug concentration can measurably affect driving skills.
  • Adaptation and Tolerance (General Concept):Individuals who regularly consume alcohol or drugs may develop a degree of tolerance, leading them to believe they are less impaired at a given level compared to someone who rarely uses these substances. However, tolerance does not negate the fundamental effects of these substances on the brain and body.
  • Denial and Rationalization:The desire to drive or avoid inconvenience can lead individuals to rationalize their decision to drive while impaired, downplaying the risks and exaggerating their ability to handle a vehicle.

This subjective feeling of being "okay" is a dangerous trap that can lead to tragic consequences, as actual driving ability is demonstrably diminished even when the individual doesn't perceive it.

The Role of Reaction Time in Safe Driving

A driver's hands gripping the steering wheel with a look of sudden alertness and concern, reacting to a perceived threat on the road ahead. 

Reaction time, the ability to quickly perceive and respond to stimuli, is a fundamental skill for safe driving. Even fractions of a second can make the difference between avoiding an accident and being involved in one. Alcohol and drugs significantly impair this crucial ability:

  • Slower Information Processing:Impairing substances slow down the brain's ability to process information from the environment. This means it takes longer for a driver to recognize a hazard, such as a pedestrian stepping into the road or a sudden stop by the vehicle ahead.
  • Delayed Motor Response:Once a hazard is perceived, the signal from the brain to the muscles is also slowed down by alcohol and drugs. This delay in motor response means it takes longer for the driver to initiate actions like braking, steering, or accelerating.
  • Reduced Coordination:Many impairing substances also affect coordination, making it more difficult to execute precise driving maneuvers smoothly and accurately. This can further compound the effects of slowed reaction time.
  • Divided Attention:Driving requires the ability to divide attention between multiple tasks, such as monitoring the road, checking mirrors, and controlling the vehicle. Alcohol and drugs impair this ability, making it harder for drivers to react appropriately to simultaneous stimuli.

The cumulative effect of these impairments on reaction time means that an intoxicated driver will take significantly longer to respond to hazards, increasing the likelihood of collisions. The myth of "driving okay" completely disregards this fundamental degradation of a life-saving skill.

Impaired Judgment: The Silent Threat

Beyond the measurable effects on reaction time, alcohol and drugs also profoundly impair judgment, which is essential for making safe driving decisions:

  • Risk Misassessment:Impaired individuals are less likely to accurately assess risks on the road. They may take unnecessary chances, such as speeding, tailgating, or making unsafe lane changes, believing they have the skills to handle these situations when they do not.
  • Poor Decision-Making:Judgment is crucial for deciding how to respond to various driving scenarios. Alcohol and drugs can lead to poor decisions, such as failing to yield the right of way, misjudging distances, or driving too fast for conditions.
  • Reduced Inhibitions:As mentioned earlier, impairing substances lower inhibitions, making drivers more likely to engage in aggressive or reckless behaviors they would normally avoid.
  • Overconfidence:Paradoxically, some intoxicated individuals may experience a false sense of overconfidence in their driving abilities, leading them to take even greater risks.

This erosion of sound judgment is a silent threat because the driver may not even realize their decision-making is compromised. They may feel "okay" while simultaneously making choices that dramatically increase the risk of an accident.

The Irrelevance of Perceived Sobriety to Actual Impairment

 A person behind the wheel of a car with a slightly unfocused gaze and a confident but potentially misguided expression, suggesting a feeling of sobriety despite likely impairment.

It is important to understand that how "sober" someone feels has little correlation with their actual level of impairment. Objective measures, such as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or the presence of drugs in the system, are the only reliable indicators of impairment.

  • Subjective vs. Objective Measures:Perceived sobriety is subjective and unreliable, while BAC and drug tests provide objective data on the level of impairment.
  • Individual Variability:The way alcohol and drugs affect individuals can vary based on factors like weight, metabolism, and tolerance, making subjective self-assessment even less accurate.
  • The Law and Impairment:Legal limits for BAC and the presence of prohibited substances are based on scientific evidence demonstrating impairment, regardless of how the individual feels.

Relying on the feeling of being "okay to drive" is a dangerous gamble that ignores the scientific reality of how impairing substances affect the brain and body.

According to Attorney/Prosecutor Stephen Bridger, “The myth of "driving okay" while impaired is a dangerous illusion that can have devastating consequences. Alcohol and drugs demonstrably impair critical driving skills like reaction time and judgment, regardless of an individual's subjective perception of their sobriety. Understanding the ways in which these substances affect the brain and body is essential for dispelling this myth and reinforcing the unequivocal message: if you have consumed alcohol or drugs that could impair your ability to drive, you are not "okay" to drive, and you should never get behind the wheel.”

About the Author

This guest post was contributed by someone with a strong interest in traffic safety and the scientific understanding of human factors that contribute to accidents, emphasizing the often-underestimated effects of impairment.