Automobile Safety

Driver Impairment

Impairment affects a driver's ability to function mentally and physically, which is required to analyze road conditions and respond to them efficiently. Research has been able to determine numerous forms of impairment that negatively affect judgment. These include:

• Bad eyesight
  • Depending on where you live, certain laws require eye exams and vehicle alterations before allowing anyone with poor eyesight to drive.
• Old age
  • In certain areas, the elderly are asked to retake their driver test to assess their reflexes and vision.
• Drowsiness
  • There is no test for drowsiness; therefore, it is not against the law to drive while overly tired. It is the driver's discretion to determine whether they could possibly harm themselves or others if they choose to drive.
• Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Everywhere you go in the US, the government enforces DWI laws that make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle once you've reached a certain limit.
• Drug use
  • This includes prescription, over-the-counter (especially antihistamines, opioids, and muscarinic antagonists), and illicit drugs.

Any combination of these can compound the effects and worsen your driving experience. For instance, drinking a tiny bit of alcohol and smoking marijuana will have a greater impact than either of these substances alone. Taking more than one prescribed amounts of medication may cause drowsiness. This may create greater complications for an older person with a slower renal process than someone young whose body is still functioning efficiently.

Situations often arise when a person is impaired, but not illegally, and has the potential to harm themselves or other drivers and passengers sharing the road. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can also create chaos in traffic when impaired.