Section 10 - ALCOHOL IS NOT THE ONLY INTOXICANT For you to fully understand other drugs and their impact on driving, it is necessary to explain drug categories and the effect each has on the human body. "Over The Counter" Drugs (OTC) When it comes to driving, even some of the drugs you buy at the local pharmacy can be dangerous. They can have just as damaging an effect as illicit drugs on your driving ability. In particular, the antihistamines can cause a debilitating impact on a person's consciousness and muscle control. Antihistamines, commonly found in many cold and allergy remedies, can cause confusion, lack of concentration, drowsiness, blurred vision, and/or dizziness. Always read the warning label of any over-the-counter drug and closely follow the instructions. These directions will warn you of any symptoms affecting the operation of a motor vehicle. Marijuana Disregarding any argument as to whether or not marijuana is safe to use in general, this section deals only with the effects of marijuana as they relate to driving responses. There are still many unknowns about marijuana, yet some things are clear. Marijuana distorts our time-space perception, disturbs decision-making, and retards reflexes. Studies confirm that a marijuana user takes longer to discern an emergency situation and responds to it more slowly once it is discerned. But here is the insidious, most damning evidence against marijuana use and driving. Marijuana users react much more slowly to driving hazards yet perceive that they are reacting much more quickly. On the stopwatch, they are slower. In their minds, they are faster. In terms of driving safely, that effect is frighteningly dangerous. Amphetamines Whether taken by prescription or illegally, this group of drugs poses immense potential for abuse. Amphetamines are used as appetite depressants and commonly used to combat fatigue and drowsiness. Amphetamines produce an artificial feeling of well-being and confidence. The user feels great and mistakenly thinks that he can accomplish anything. This creates a propensity to take risks a rational person would avoid. As the drug wears off, the user experiences a sense that he or she is being drained of all energy, and this "rebound" effect can totally deplete concentration and control. When this happens, the common solution is just to take more, thinking that the drug will help give the person the energy he has lost. Continued use of amphetamines will cause a nervous, fidgety, "hyper" state, which will be accompanied by tension and irritability. Frequent use leads to an increased tolerance, which will then force the user to take larger doses to obtain the same effect. The frequent user will see these symptoms become chronic as a psychological dependency takes control of the user's personality. Long-term use can also lead to physical and neurological deterioration. How would you like to drive on the same road with another driver having these symptoms? In driving, there is already enough tension and irritability without increasing it even more from a drug. Do not become that driver. Be the kind of driver you want everyone else to be - responsible, considerate, and no threat to the safety of others. Cocaine As it relates to driving, cocaine affects users very much in the same way amphetamines do. But to compound the danger, cocaine can also produce hallucinations. Having hallucinations is probably not a great idea when you are traveling down the road at perhaps 65 miles per hour. The last place drivers would want to be is on a highway with some other driver speeding toward them just having had an attack of the "cocaine bugs." Barbiturates Barbiturates are more commonly known as sedatives. They can be found in many sleeping medications. But they may also be included in medicines for hypertension, mental illness, and chronic tension states. One can also find them used in medicines treating seizure disorders. Whereas amphetamines accelerate neurological functions, barbiturates depress them. Abusers frequently alternate between the two, using amphetamines to pick them up and barbiturates to bring them down. A more destructive one-two punch is hard to imagine. Large doses of barbiturates will lead to large depressant effects. They can produce a stuporous (sleep-like) condition in which reasoning ability and psychomotor coordination are impaired. They tend to aggravate the user's mental state, which can result in a range all the way from highly aggressive to seriously depressed reactions. This is very similar to alcohol use since both are depressants. Combined with alcohol, they can provide a quick trip to the morgue. Barbiturate users are extremely dangerous behind the wheel of a car. The drug makes drivers unpredictable and inconsistent. Opiates and other Narcotics Opiates come in many forms. Heroin, codeine, and morphine are the most common, but there are many synthetic types available on the street. But no matter what form they come in, they all are disastrous inside any driver of a motor vehicle. Any of these opiates can alter driving behavior through hallucinations, drowsiness, or unconsciousness. The side effects can be so severe that the consequence for using them while driving can be death of the user and/or innocent parties. Mind-Altering Drugs Any rational person would need no argument to convince him or her that driving under an alternative reality is not going to produce safe driving. Unfortunately, most who go down the path of drug destruction have long since ceased to be rational. Drugs, such as LSD or the many other designer drugs available on the street, turn the average driver into a death machine. Synergistic Effects The word "synergism" refers to the interaction of agents that result in the sum of the reaction becoming greater than the sum of the parts. To put it in simpler terms, synergy results when 2 + 2 = 10. Some drugs, when taken together, have a combined effect greater than the effect of each drug taken separately. One drug taken in a small dose might provide relief of symptoms but taken in combination with another drug could result in death. Even prescribed drugs can have a debilitating effect on your driving ability, especially when taken in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Be sure to read all the warnings on the label about the effects of any drugs you take, whether they be over-the-counter or prescribed. The most dangerous synergies are produced when alcohol and other drugs are combined. A glass of wine ingested alone before driving may cause no aberrations in driving behavior. A glass of wine ingested with an allergy pill could cause a fatal drowsiness. For example, let's say that a person takes a barbiturate, such as Seconal, and, at the same time, drinks a can of beer. A responsible person would wait an hour before driving, thinking that in that time, the liver would have dissipated the alcohol. But what the user would not realize is that it will take four hours for the liver to dissipate the Seconal. When this person began to drive after the hour, he would still encounter the problems depressants would cause even though in his mind he thought he was trying to be careful. In taking more than one drug simultaneously, or within a few hours of each other, a person must always be aware of possible synergistic effects. So what is the solution? Simply never combine legal drugs without the approval of your physician. And, of course, never take illicit drugs, do not ever combine them with other drugs or alcohol, and, finally, never drive in either case. INTOXICATION AND THE LAW The legal system is now beginning to take a hard-line approach to driving under the influence. The number of traffic fatalities combined with the influence of organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has resulted in tough new penalties. New legislation reflects society's changing attitude toward the drunk driver. Between 1982 and 1985, 493 new laws targeting drunk drivers were passed. In the following, you can read about some of the changes: * Age 21 is now the legal drinking age in all fifty states. * Most states now have an illegal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit of .10 or lower. Virginia's current limit is .08. * Most states now have "sobriety checkpoints" where police officers randomly check for intoxicated drivers. * In most states, a person now convicted of causing personal injury, death, or property damage while driving under the influence must pay restitution to victims, whether it be directly or to an established general fund. * Preliminary breath tests are legal in about half of all states. * Currently, in most states, refusal to submit to tests for alcohol use is admissible in a court of law as condemning evidence. * In most states, drunken driving resulting in a death is now prosecuted as felony vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter but may be charged as murder if there are aggravating factors. * You must not drink any alcoholic beverage in any vehicle you are driving or riding in. You may not carry on yourself, or have in the vehicle, any opened container with alcohol inside. Any container of liquor, beer, or wine in the vehicle must be full, unopened, and have an intact seal. Anything with a broken seal should be placed in the vehicle's trunk or be completely out of the passenger compartment. In many areas it is illegal to have an unsealed alcoholic beverage in the glove compartment. Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense and could negatively impact the rest of a driver's life, not to mention the lives of others affected, such as their parents, children, spouses, or the victims of crashes. The Big Change In the early 1990's Virginia adopted an administrative license suspension law. It is more commonly called "Admin Per Se." The law was enacted in response to public pressure to strengthen the penalties and deterrent factors for driving under the influence. What it means is that a person is presumed guilty of drunk driving if his blood alcohol content is .08 or higher. For most matters within our courts, the burden of proof usually lies with the state prosecutor. But with the "Admin Per Se" law, the burden of proof becomes a matter for the defense. If a driver's BAC is .08 or higher, he must prove that he was not drunk because it is presumed that he was drunk. By the way, if someone is driving a commercial vehicle, he is presumed legally drunk with a BAC of .04. If you, as a driver, ever had to prove you were not impaired with BAC levels at those figures, it would be highly unlikely you could do so. A BAC of .08 or higher is a legal "smoking gun," and you had better be prepared for the consequences. And believe me, there are consequences. The Penalties for Refusing a Sobriety Test Accepting your driver's license in Virginia is your legal consent to submit to tests of your blood, breath, or urine if you are suspected of being intoxicated while driving. If you fail to complete or refuse to take the tests, you will be punished by suspension of your license for 7 days and up to one year. These punishments may be in addition to other legal actions taken against the convicted driver. The Penalties for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) If a driver is convicted of driving under the influence, there are serious consequences. The consequences vary, depending on whether a driver is under 21 years of age or over 21 years of age. If the individual has had previous convictions, the penalties become harsher. If drivers are under 21 years of age, it is against the law to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages. So, the law says that if their BAC is .02% or over, they are presumed drunk. That effectively means that any trace of alcohol in their blood when driving is considered drunk driving. If caught driving with a BAC of .02% or more and less than .08% the driver can be fined up to $500 and have his/her license suspended for at least 7 days up to six months. Whether you like it or not, that is the way it is. So, why is it so punitive? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has compiled statistics revealing that 28% of highway crashes where someone was killed by a driver between 17 and 19 years of age involved alcohol levels of .10% or higher. The plain, unvarnished truth is that young drivers have the most accidents, and young drunk drivers are the worst. They are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of deaths, injuries, and damage to property. In 1998, 1,128 drunk drivers from the age of fifteen to nineteen were involved in injury crashes in Virginia, and another 36 were involved in fatal crashes. If you are under 18 years of age, your risk of a fatal accident is about 2 1/2 times that of the "average" driver, and your risk of an injury accident is 3 times higher than that of the average driver. Every day in Virginia, over 3 teenagers are injured in alcohol-related crashes. So, you think that sounded tough. Well, if you are convicted of DUI and are over 21 years of age, it gets tougher... 1st Offense: * The judge can sentence the driver to as many as twelve months in jail. The driver will automatically get 5 days in jail if carrying a passenger under the age of 18 at the time of conviction. * The driver can be fined from $250 up to $2,500. This does not include legal expenses that could cost thousands of dollars. * The driver will lose his or her license for twelve months. * The driver must attend Virginia Safety Action Program (VASAP) before obtaining a restricted license. * For the first and any subsequent offense, the judge may require an ignition interlock system be installed at the driver's expense for the duration of the license suspension. Thinking only of the financial costs, the entire experience could cost several thousand dollars. But there is more. The driver could lose his job. If the driver were you, how would you get to work if you had a job? When you weigh this with all of the other consequences, you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. 2nd Offense (within 5 years): * The driver will be sentenced to jail for not less than 1 month or more than twelve months, and if the sentence is suspended will still go to jail for a mandatory 48 hours. * The driver will pay a fine from $500 up to $2,500. (Not counting legal expenses, remember.) * The driver will lose his license for 36 months. * The driver must attend VASAP, however there is also a waiting period of four months before a restricted license can be obtained. * The installation of an ignition interlock device will be required. 3rd Offense (within 10 years): * The driver will lose his license for five years. After 3 years the driver can petition the court for a restricted license and after five years for a full restitution. * The driver will pay at least $1000, but probably much more. * The driver may spend one to five years in prison. * The driver must petition a Court for reinstatement of his license. * The driver must be evaluated by the Virginia Safety Action Program prior to reinstatement. * After reinstatement the driver must have a special certificate of insurance (SR22). 4th offense? Don't go there! Remember, it isn't funny . . . as already stated, drunks have been the fodder of comedians for years, and we are accustomed to finding the behavior of a drunk funny. But, now it is time to quit laughing. It is not funny. Drunks destroy more than themselves and their families. They destroy other families. The stories of tragedies involving drunk drivers are far too common, but the following one is terribly compelling. This is what recently happened to some very real people, who all came from very real families. Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for teenagers. That's why the law is tough. So, be informed and be warned! Carrolton, Kentucky, May 14, 1988 At 10:56 p.m. on Saturday, May 14,1988, an old school bus was headed south on Interstate 71 outside of Carrolton, Kentucky. There were 53 teenagers and four adults on board, returning from an outing at King's Island Amusement Park, just north of Cincinnati, Ohio. Larry Mahoney, 34, was heading north on Interstate 71 in the southbound lane. Mahoney was too drunk to realize that he was going the wrong way. Both Mahoney and John Pearman, the bus driver, tried to brake, but it was too late. The impact ruptured the fuel tank in the bus, and, within seconds, the entire bus was engulfed in flames. The ruptured fuel tank exploded in an orange fireball that shot from the front of the bus to the back. "Not one part of the bus was untouched by the flames, inside or out," Carroll County Coroner James Dunn told reporters. Twenty-four teens and the three adults died when they could not reach the rear exit. Their bodies were burned beyond recognition. Dental records helped the families of the victims identify the bodies. Mahoney survived. He was charged with 27 counts of murder. Carroll County Commonwealth's Attorney General said that he would seek the death penalty. Mahoney had driven drunk before. He had pleaded guilty in 1984 to drunken driving and was fined $300 plus court costs and ordered to pay $140 for an alcohol abuse course. At that time, his license had been suspended for 6 months. On May 14, the day of the collision, Mahoney had a BAC of .24. More than twice the legal limit. Use common sense. If you want to drink, don't drive. If you have to have transportation and you want to drink, call a taxi. Designated Drivers "Designated Driver" is the term used in a public awareness campaign designed to encourage one individual to abstain from drinking alcohol, so he or she can be responsible for transporting the other members of the group home safely. Many restaurants and taverns assist in promoting the idea by offering complimentary non-alcoholic beverages to the designated driver. What most people do not realize is that there are established rules for qualifying designated drivers. They are just common sense guidelines for those short on common sense. DMV Image * A designated driver must possess a valid driver's license. * A designated driver must be at least 21 years of age. * A designated driver must be a member of a group consisting of two or more persons. * A designated driver must verbally identify himself or herself as a designated driver to the server. * A designated driver must abstain from drinking alcohol. * A designated driver must not be impaired in any way affecting driving ability. * A designated driver must understand that management has the right to refuse service to anyone at any time. WHAT IF I DON'T DRINK You may resent spending time reading about intoxication if you do not drink. But even if you never have and never will, you drive on roads with people who do. Understanding this material could prove useful in protecting yourself. Identifying Drunk Drivers Drunk drivers cannot always be identified easily if they are not driving. They may sit back, looking relaxed and cheerful. Once drivers are on the road, however, there are ways to tell if a driver is drunk. Here is what the law enforcement officers look for; and it is what you should recognize, so you can take precautions. Lane Drift: The drunk driver will weave from side to side and have difficulty driving in the center of the lane. Lane drift becomes exaggerated as he continues to drive. Speed Variations: The drunk driver will have difficulty maintaining a constant rate of speed. Recognizing his perceptual limitations, he frequently drives more slowly to compensate. Then, realizing he is slowing, he overcompensates and speeds up. The cycle tends to persist. Braking Variations: For the same reasons, he will drift in the lane and then vary his speed. He will brake intermittently. If following behind him, you see brake lights go off and on periodically for no apparent reason; it is your clue to exercise caution. Erratic Behavior: Drunk drivers will demonstrate uncertainty by acting erratically when confronted with routine driving behaviors. They may creep up to a stoplight or speed up and slam on their brakes. They may stop too far back or too far forward or even ignore the signal altogether. When someone draws your attention to them through their peculiar actions in driving situations, exercise caution. This erratic behavior can also be spotted by other observations: * Excessive lane changes at high rates of speed without signals. * Driving too close to the curb or center divider: Drunk drivers sometimes use some boundary to keep driving in a straight line. * Difficulty turning and erratic signaling: They may signal left and then turn right. * Failure to dim lights for oncoming traffic. What Do You Do The safest place on the same road as a drunk driver is behind him - way behind him. Trying to pass him is dangerous since you never know what he might do. He might decide to drift into you just as you are attempting to pass. Stay behind unless you are certain you can get around him safely. Using another street to get to your destination is also a good idea. Should you notify the traffic authorities? By all means. If the driving behavior is clearly erratic, inform the police or highway patrol and identify the vehicle. There is a slight chance the person may be ill, so do not accuse; just describe the behavior. CONCLUSION Driving responsibly and safely is a decision. It is a decision you and you alone must make. The Virginia Driver training program provides tools to help you to drive safely and responsibly. But no matter what tools are available to you, they will work only if you have made the decision to utilize them. It is up to you. HERE'S TO SAFE DRIVING! Next STEP: On the next page you will take your last course quiz before taking the final exam. Once you complete the quiz you will have the option to take a practice final exam before going to your testing location. You may take the practice final exam as many times as you like before going to take the real one. On the day you decide to take the final exam, you will log on to your course and click on a link to send them a work order through our fax system (Kinko's and UPS Stores only). Take your login code and your photo ID with you. Remember, we do not send you a certificate of completion until the entire course AND the final exam are completed successfully. If you have any questions, call us 1-800-800-3579.