Virginia Department of EducationModule Seven

Driver Performance: Personal Factors

Having a driver’s license involves more than just knowing how to drive. It involves knowing and demonstrating responsible adult behaviors.

Responsibility!

What are 3 personal decisions you will face when becoming a driver?

• Zero Tolerance Law: ????????• You use – You lose• Legal limit for 21 and over: ____%• Legal limit for under 21: _____%• Legal drinking age is 21…but when is it ok

for an adult to drink and drive? • Answer: NEVER.

Driving Impaired

BAC• BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration• It is the mathematical ratio of the percentage

of alcohol in the blood stream• 6 Factors affecting BAC????• Weight• Gender• Amount of Food Intake• Time Spent Drinking• Alcohol Content/Size of Drink• Personal Factors: Mood, Medications, etc.

Weight• Heavier people have more

blood and other body fluids to dilute alcohol consumed

• A 210 lb person will have a lower level BAC than a person weighing 115 lbs who had the same amount of drinks.

BAC Factors Continued

Gender

• Women process alcohol at a slower rate than males.

• This is because they usually weigh less, have less body fluid, and their liver has a harder time breaking down the alcohol

BAC Factors Continued

Food Intake

• The amount of food in your body does very little to reduce the effect alcohol has on the brain and liver.

• However, food does coat the lining of the stomach and slows absorption to the blood stream

Time Spent Drinking

• 90% of the alcohol is oxidized (burned up) by the liver

• 10% is eliminated by breath, urine, and sweat

• Intoxication = Alcohol is toxic to the liver and brain

BAC Factors Continued

Alcohol Content/Size

• Are all alcoholic beverages the same?

• % of Alcohol

• Beer: 5 – 11%• Wine: 8 – 25 %• Hard Liquor: 26 – 75%

What do you think?

1. The human body removes one drink per hour

• Not for everyone! Average elimination rate is .015 % per hour

• Male weighing 150 lbs – ONE beer will produce a max. BAC of .027%

(.027% - .015% = .012%) in 1 hour

2. Coffee, a cold shower, exercise can help sober you up• Not true. Only TIME will return

sobriety.

3. Alcohol makes you feel better when you are depressed• Alcohol is a depressant…

it is a downer.

• 4. Alcohol won’t affect my brain…and if it does it is only temporary

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2gVzVIBc_g

Drug Factors

Marijuana

• The active ingredient is ______.

• Impairs: Memory, perception (light, sounds, time, touch), motor-coordination, vision, concentration

• Using + Driving = DUI

Over the Counter Drugs

• Antihistamines (Benadryl)• Cold Medications (Nyquil)

• These medications make you drowsy and fatigued! You are not able to operate a vehicle while taking these medications.

Scenarios

With a partner – you will write down your answers from 3 different scenarios. Be

prepared to share!

Scenarios

Scenario 1: • Jane, 16, and Tom, 20, were coming home from a

party at 1 a.m. Jane is the designated driver and Tom has had three drinks just before leaving the party. They have just taken Ken, 16, and Chris, 14, home. Both Ken and Chris had been drinking at the party. There are several empty beer cans on the floor on the back seat. Jane crosses the centerline and then comes back into her lane. She is pulled over by a policeman. What will be the consequences?

Zero Tolerance Law• It is illegal for persons under

21 to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages.

• Anyone under 21 who drives with alcohol in his/her system will face license suspension or revocation for one to three years.

• Police will confiscate the license of a driver under the age of 21

• Drivers under 21 still can be prosecuted for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) n

• A minor who is convicted of a drug or alcohol-related offense will suffer a one year license suspension, even if no driving was involved in the offense.

• DUI convictions now stay on a driver’s record

Scenarios

Scenario 2:• Mr. Smith (30 years old) was stopped late one Saturday night

because he was weaving from side to side on the road. The officer administered several roadside sobriety tests, which lead him to believe Mr. Smith was legally intoxicated. The officer then informed Mr. Smith that he was going to give him a Breathalyzer test. Mr. Smith refused. What are the consequences of Mr. Smith’s refusal to submit to the Breathalyzer test?

Implied Consent

• Arrested• 1st refusal =License

suspended 1 year• 2nd or more refusal =

misdemeanor and suspension of 3 years

• Can be used against you in court

Scenarios

Scenario 3• While under the influence of alcohol, John, age 18, causes

bodily harm to a pedestrian. John had been drinking four hours before the accident. The pedestrian is severely injured and later dies in the hospital. What citation could be issued?

Vehicular Manslaughter

• 1-20 years in jail• License revoked• Criminal record• Heavy fines

Fatigue

Fatigue is:

• The body’s “downtime”• Follows a period of• Extended mental

activity• Extended physical

activityCharacterized by:• Reduced capability to

work• Reduced efficiency of

brain function

What can cause fatigue??

• Extended physical activity• Stress• Lack of sleep• Body’s Natural Downtime is

midnight – 6am and 1pm – 3pm

Fatigue and Driving

Avoid long drivesAvoid resting head on head rest

DO get plenty of fresh airDO change drivers if possible

DO stop and walk around or take a break at a rest stop.

Aggressive Driving

What factors cause aggressive driving?• More cars on the road = more traffic• Construction = traffic• Stress Three types of Aggressive Drivers:Type 1: Quiet Road RageComplaining, rushing, competing with other carsType 2: Verbal Road RageYelling, cussing, insulting, honkingType 3: Epic Road RageCutting off, chasing, blocking, fighting/threatening

Aggressive Driving

• What are other signs of an aggressive driver?

• Tailgating• Flashing lights/high beams• Weaving through lanes• Passing on shoulder• Honking/Yelling• Speeding

• How to handle an aggressive driver:

• Avoid retaliating (don’t honk back, give gestures, looks, etc)

• Put your pride in the back seat…don’t take it personal!

• You keep driving SAFELY.

– http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/other-shows/videos/worst-case-scenario-aggressive-drivers.htm