Alcohol affects each person differently, and no two people in Michigan or elsewhere react to alcohol consumption in the same way. Various factors determine how alcohol will affect a person, including the person’s size, physical condition, gender and more. Regardless, those who drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car put themselves and everyone else on the road in danger.
Blood alcohol content explained
The gold standard of measuring a driver’s sobriety is blood alcohol content. The amount of alcohol is measure in a person’s bloodstream in milligrams per milliliters, or the number of milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. In Michigan, a person with a BAC of .08 or higher is considered legally too intoxicated to drive.
However, just because that is the standard measurement, it does not mean that a driver is able to drive safely with a BAC below that level. Impairment actually begins with a BAC of .02, and a BAC of .05 may cause loss of muscle control and coordination problems. Beyond that, a person becomes visibly intoxicated, with slurred speech, trouble walking, etc. Various physiological factors determine how alcohol affects a person, and while one person may feel and act fine with a BAC of .08 of higher, another person may exhibit clear signs of intoxication with a BAC below that.
Bottom line: don’t drink and drive
Regardless of how a person thinks he or she can handle alcohol consumption, the truth is that any alcohol can affect a person’s reasoning, depth perception, eyesight and coordination — each of which are imperative to drive safely. If a person gets in an accident caused by an allegedly drunk driver and suffers serious injuries, that person can consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to obtain a full understanding of his or her rights and options with regard to seeking compensation.