Beyond the Buzz

Preventing impaired driving 101

A TIRF Youth Advisor Program (TIRF YAP) blog.

TLDR (a.k.a. brief summary): Impaired driving isn’t just about alcohol. Certain medications, when mixed with alcohol can further slow your reaction time, cloud your judgment, and affect your coordination, making driving incredibly dangerous. Other factors like body composition, the food consumed prior to drinking and fatigue can also influence the effects of alcohol and other substances. Knowledge about how these factors affect you can help you make safer choices on the road.

Understanding how alcohol impairs driving

We all know that driving requires quick reactions, quick decisions and constant attention to what’s happening on the road. But many things can impact your ability to stay alert. Alcohol is the most obvious culprit when it comes to impaired driving. Some of the most common effects of alcohol on driving include slowed thinking, slowed reaction times and poor coordination. After drinking, individuals feel less inhibited, meaning they are more willing to do things they wouldn’t while sober. This can include speeding, and willingness to take more risks. You know what I’m talking about. We all have that friend who says well it seemed like a good idea at the time after a night of drinking. But it really wasn’t a good idea. This is because when you’re drinking, you are the last person who is capable of gauging whether you are impaired or okay to drive. Alcohol impairs your judgement so how you feel doesn’t tell you the truth. So, if you even have to ask the question before getting behind the wheel, the answer is you shouldn’t drive.

Medication & alcohol interactions

There are a variety of medications that don’t mix well with alcohol. In these instances, medications can not only affect how we handle a vehicle, but also how alcohol impacts your body. For example, some medications can increase drowsiness, make it harder to pay attention or stay focused on your surroundings, slow your reactions or interfere with motor control. I’ll admit, I didn’t always think about how medications and alcohol mix.

One time, I took some over-the-counter cold medicine and had a drink with dinner. It wasn’t much, but by the time I got in my car, I was feeling way more tired than I expected. Thankfully I wasn’t the one driving. If I had been, I definitely would have needed a Plan B  because I didn’t think I could stay awake long enough to get home. There are actually some medications, painkillers, antihistamines, and sedatives that can make alcohol hit harder than usual, and when you mix them, the impairing effects can be more pronounced. Let’s review them.

1. Painkillers: There have been a few times when I took extra strength Advil or Tylenol for a headache, then had a beer or two with friends later. The combination doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal, but depending on the dosage, painkillers can slow your reaction time and make you drowsy. When you add alcohol into the mix, it amplifies that drowsiness, making you feel more sluggish or out of it and it’s harder to stay alert. Though it might seem harmless, this combination under certain conditions can impair driving ability in ways you don’t expect. Just a moment of inattentiveness or loss of focus can result in missing a hazard on the road, putting both you and others at risk.
2. Sedatives & sleeping pills: If you’ve ever taken something for anxiety or sleep, you probably know it can even make you feel a little out of it the next day. If you mix sedatives with alcohol at night, don’t be surprised if it kicks in way faster than you expected, so make sure you’re ready for bed. Also, this combination can make it that much harder to wake up ready for the day and to get it together for work or school. I remember a time when I had a glass of wine after taking a sleeping pill for insomnia, and I felt like I was in a complete fog. My reactions were slow, and I felt pretty hazy. That’s because alcohol can make some of the effects of the sedative way stronger. When you are feeling sluggish, it can be very difficult to respond to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions, like that truck that came out of nowhere. For this reason, many anxiety medications and all sleep aids caution against driving, so combining them with alcohol guarantees that driving is not a safe choice.
3. Antihistamines: Antihistamines (allergy & sinus medication) can cause drowsiness on their own but mix them with alcohol and you might feel even more impaired. Even something as simple as a cold pill can sometimes mess with your coordination and reaction times when alcohol is
4. Antidepressants & other psychiatric medications: For those of us who take medication for mental health, it’s even more important to be cautious about mixing them with alcohol. I’ve personally noticed that if I take certain meds, alcohol hits me much harder, even if it’s just one drink. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and other psychiatric drugs can interact with alcohol to make you feel drowsy, dizzy, or foggy. It’s important to always check with your doctor about how alcohol may impact your meds and be extra cautious if you’re thinking about driving. Warning labels are there for a reason so read them.

Alcohol effects can vary with body type, food & fatigue  

Ever wondered why alcohol affects people so differently? It’s not just about how much you drink, it’s about your body composition, what you’ve eaten, and even how much sleep you’ve had. Let’s break it down so you can plan your nights out a little smarter.

• Why women feel it more. Here’s a fun fact (or maybe not-so-fun): men and women process alcohol differently. Men have more water in their bodies, while women have less because our bodies naturally carry more fat. Less water means alcohol isn’t diluted as much in the bloodstream, so it hits us harder. On top of that, women have lower levels of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach. That means more of it goes straight into our bloodstream. So, if you’re trying to keep up with the guys and match drink for drink, you’ll likely end up way more impaired. It’s not a competition worth winning, trust me.
• Food matters. What’s in your stomach before you start drinking can make a huge difference on the effects of alcohol. Foods high in carbs, fats, or proteins slow things down by keeping alcohol in your stomach longer, where it gets broken down more. But if you’ve just had a light salad or some fruit, or worse yet, you haven’t eaten at all, there’s not much to slow things down. The alcohol passes through your stomach faster to your intestines, then going straight into your bloodstream, and suddenly you’re feeling the effects much more.
• Lack of sleep & booze don’t mix. Ever notice how a couple of drinks hit harder when you’re exhausted? That’s because alcohol is a depressant, and if you’re already tired, your body can’t handle it as well. Being low on sleep can amplify the sedative effects of alcohol. So, if you’re running on fumes, think twice before grabbing that drink.
• The bottom line. Understanding how alcohol affects your body can make a big difference in how you handle a night out. Eat well, get your sleep, and remember, drinking smarter is always better than drinking more.

Why impaired driving is a huge risk

Whether it’s alcohol, medications, how you’re built or fatigue, all of these things can increase impairment under certain conditions. Keep this top of mind before you start drinking so you can make safe choices all night long. Impaired driving puts everyone on the road at risk, and the consequences are more than you might think.

1. Crash risk increases. Impaired driving increases the likelihood of crashes, endangering the driver, passengers, and others on the road. Even low levels of alcohol increase impairment and make it hard to react quickly to sudden changes or hazards. This is why provinces and territories also impose consequences at lower breath alcohol concentrations between .05mg% and the illegal limit at .08mg%.
2. Drivers are more likely to be detected. And let’s not forget that police are able to stop and breath test drivers at any time. In 2018, the new impaired driving statute that addressed the issue of cannabis impaired driving, also granted police officers the authority to engage in Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS). In other words, there doesn’t have to be a RIDE program checkpoint, and officers don’t need probable cause to make a breath demand. A regular traffic stop can now include a breath test.
3. Legal consequences: The law is strict when it comes to impaired driving. Getting caught driving under the influence, whether it’s from alcohol or drugs, can lead to fines, licence suspension, or even jail time. Having a DUI (driving under the influence) which is a criminal conviction and not a traffic violation on your record can also greatly impact current job and future careers. Provincial low-BAC offences can result in alcohol education programs and an alcohol interlock requirement.
4. Financial costs: Crashes and injuries can also result in significant financial costs, from medical bills to increased insurance premiums. Defending an impaired driving charge can cost drivers upwards of $10,000, to say nothing of exponential insurance costs and potential job loss. Impaired driving is a huge financial gamble that isn’t worth taking.

Alternatives to driving while impaired

The safest choice is always Sober Smart (i.e., no booze when driving). The good news is there are some great low or no alcohol beers which come in a variety of brands. This means you can feel like part of the crowd knowing your friends can count on you to get them home safely as a sober driver.

And, if you’ve had a drink with medication anticipate that the impairing effects of alcohol may be greater. Before you head out, it’s always a good idea to find an alternative way to get home.

Here are some options:

• Public transit or rideshare services to get home safely without worrying about driving.
• Carpooling with a friend or family member who can take the wheel if you are impaired or less alert.
• Planning ahead for a ride home if you’re going somewhere where alcohol will be involved, so you don’t get tempted to drive.

Make safe driving choices a habit

By understanding how alcohol, medications, and other biological factors can affect your ability to drive, you can make safer choices. I’ve learned through experience that it’s important to listen to your body and be aware of the factors that might affect your judgment or reaction time. Taking a moment to be mindful and check in with yourself before you drive could be the difference between a safe ride home and a dangerous situation.

Remember: If you’re unsure about how alcohol or your medications might be affecting you, it’s always safer to find another way to get where you’re going. No trip is worth the risk.

#MySafeRoadHome authors: Kylee Bowman, TIRF Lead, Youth Advisor Program (TIRF YAP) taps into the views, experiences and attitudes of young road users and helps TIRF develop educational strategies and communicate risks in ways that are relatable and engaging for young audiences. Kylee was crash-involved as an 8-year-old, and since 2011, she has been part of TIRF’s Drop It And Drive® education program. Robyn Robertson, TIRF President & CEO, collaborates with Kylee to blend the youth perspective with her background as a criminologist with 25 years of experience in road safety research. Robyn authored TIRF’s knowledge translation model and is well-versed in implementation strategies and operational practices across several sectors.

Related topics:

Source documents and resources:

IDCC Are you impaired? Zero is the safe choice https://tirf.ca/download/impaired-alcohol-cannabis

Avoid the weakest link in ladies’ night #MySafeRoadHome blog https://tirf.ca/blog/weakest-link-ladies-night/

Women’s Straight Talk Series on Drunk Driving – Saying I can…not? https://tirf.ca/blog/womens-straight-talk-series-on-drunk-driving-saying-i-cannot/

Sober Smart Driving education program, Alcohol, Drugs & Crash Risk https://sobersmartdriving.tirf.ca/topic-areas/alcohol-drugs-crash-risk/

Drunk Driving: It’s a Women’s Issue Too https://tirf.ca/download/drunk-driving-womens-issue-too

Tips to Steer Clear of Impairment and Reduce Crash Risk #MySafeRoadHome blog https://tirf.ca/blog/tips-to-steer-clear-of-impairment-and-reduce-crash-risk/

From resume to road: Do traffic violations limit your job search? #MySafeRoadHome TIRF YAP blog https://tirf.ca/blog/resume-to-road-traffic-violations-job-search/