CDL Practice Tests For Safe Driving Page 11

The amount of alcohol in your body is commonly measured by the bloodalcohol concentration (BAC).

What determines BAC:

BAC is determined by the amount of alcohol you drink (more alcohol means a higher BAC), how fast you drink (faster drinking means a higher BAC) and your weight (a small person does not have to drink as much to reach the same BAC).

What constitutes a “drink”: A “drink” refers to the alcohol in a drink that affects human performance. It does not make any difference whether the alcohol comes from a couple of beers or two glasses of wine or two shots of hard liquor. All the following drinks contain the same amount of alcohol:

• 12-oz. glass of 5% beer
• 5-oz. glass of 12% wine
• 1 1/2-oz. shot of 80-proof liquor

Alcohol and the brain:

Alcohol affects more and more of the brain as BAC builds up. The first part of the brain affected controls judgment and self control. One of the bad things about this is it can keep drinkers from knowing they are getting drunk. As BAC continues to build up, muscle control, vision and coordination are affected more and more. Eventually, a person will pass out.

FALSE

• Alcohol increases your ability to drive.
• Some people can drink a lot and not be affected by it.
• If you eat a lot first, you will not get drunk.
• Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker sober up.
• Stick with beer – it is not as strong as wine or whiskey.

How Alcohol Affects Driving:

All drivers are affected by drinking alcohol. Alcohol affects judgment, vision, coordination and reaction time. It causes serious driving errors, such as:

• Increased reaction time to hazards.
• Driving too fast or too slow.
• Driving in the wrong lane.
• Running over the curb.
• Weaving.

Besides alcohol, other legal and illegal drugs are being used more often. Laws prohibit the possession or use of many drugs while on duty. They prohibit being under the influence of any “controlled substance,” an amphetamine (including “pep pills” and “bennies”), methamphetamine, narcotics or any other substance that can make the driver unsafe.

Pay attention to warning labels of legitimate drugs and medicines and to doctor’s orders regarding possible effects. Stay away from illegal drugs. Do not use any drug that hides fatigue — the only cure for fatigue is rest.

Pay attention to warning labels of legitimate drugs and medicines and to doctor’s orders regarding possible effects. Stay away from illegal drugs. Do not use any drug that hides fatigue — the only cure for fatigue is rest. Alcohol can make the effects of other drugs much worse. The safest rule is do not mix drugs with driving at all.

Illness —

Once in a while, you may become so ill that you cannot operate a motor vehicle safely. If this happens, do not drive. However, in case of an emergency, you may drive to the nearest place where you can safely stop.