Facts About Blood
Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
What is BAC?
BAC is Blood Alcohol Concentration, or the amount of
alcohol present in one’s blood system. BAC begins when an individual
consumes even a minimal amount of alcohol, and increases exponentially
with each drink consumed. BAC does not distinguish between "hard"
liquor, wine or beer; any alcohol consumed will increase the BAC level
within an individual.
How much is too much?
While individuals rarely possess the tools to
determine their own BAC, law enforcement officials do, and will not
hesitate to use them if they believe a driver to be impaired. BAC can vary
with-in an individual, due to a number of physical and environmental
factors, including, but not limit-ed to, height, weight, previous
experience with alcohol and amount of food consumed prior to drinking.
Because of the wide variance that exists between individuals, it is wise
to make alternate travel plans or designate a driver, when even a minimal
amount of alcohol is involved in any given situation.
At what BAC level does impairment begin?
Studies show that impairment begins at any BAC
level over .00, and can affect an individual’s judgment and ability
to react, factors that are critical to safe driving. While it is true that
accepted BAC levels vary from state to state, to ensure the well-being of
all those on the road, the only truly safe driving is sober driving.
Real change will not take place until the public
recognizes that driving under the influence, at any BAC level, endangers
the life of the driver, his/her passengers, and all those traveling on the
road. The physical, emotional and economic burdens impaired drivers
inflict upon the community each year are unparalleled.
Common Symptoms People Exhibit
at Various BAC Levels,
and the Probable Effects On Driving Ability
| |
Blood Alcohol
Concentration
(BAC)1 |
Typical Effects |
Predictable Effects
on Driving |
|
| |
.02% |
- Some loss of judgment
- Relaxation
- Slight body warmth
- Altered mood
|
|
|
| |
.05% |
|
|
|
| |
.08% |
-
Muscle
coordination becomes poor (e.g. balance, speech, vision, reaction
time, and hearing)
-
Harder to
detect danger
-
Judgment,
self-control, reasoning, and memory are impaired.
|
- Concentration
- Short-term memory loss
- Speed control
- Reduced information processing
capability (e.g. signal detection, visual search)
- Impaired perception
|
|
| |
.10% |
- Clear deterioration of reaction time
and control
- Slurred speech, poor coordination,
and slowed thinking
|
- Reduced ability to maintain lane
position and brake appropriately
|
|
| |
.15% |
- Far less muscle control than normal
- Vomiting may occur (unless this
level is reached slowly or a person has developed tolerance for
alcohol)
- Major loss of balance
|
- Substantial impairment in vehicle
control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and
auditory information processing
|
|
1 The table is from The ABCs of BAC brochure from
The National Highway Traffic Administration located at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Above information provided by the The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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