Many people enjoy going out to bars and having a few drinks. However, it’s never a good idea to drink and drive. Drunk driving causes far too many car wrecks. Often, these drunk driving accidents impact more than just the driver, as pedestrians and other people on the scene could be hurt. Still, drivers may wonder how long they should wait to drive after consuming alcohol.
How long should you wait in order to avoid drunk driving and potential car wrecks?
It’s not uncommon for people to wonder how long they need to wait after drinking to drive their vehicle. According to the NHTSA, about 32% of car wrecks involving fatalities happen because of drunk driving. This is an alarming figure that paints the picture of how important not getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is.
How long a person needs to wait to avoid drunk driving varies by person. This is because our bodies process alcohol differently, which is also true with food and other substances. Because of this difference in processing times, there is no widespread answer. However, a generally accepted rule is to wait one hour per every drink you have before driving. This means people who have two drinks should wait at least two hours. Still, this provides no guarantee against drunk driving.
However, different drinks vary in their alcohol content. Healthline says you should wait one hour after drinking a small shot of liquor. The website says the wait time after a pint of beer is two hours and that it’s three hours for a large glass of wine.
Readers should note that in some stances, it could take up to 12 hours to be safe to get behind the wheel.
There can be stiff punishments for a DUI
As mentioned, many fatal car wrecks happen each year because of drunk driving. Because of this, there can be severe punishment for the offense. This is especially the case for repeat offenders. Of course, the specific punishment varies by state. However, it typically leads to fines, which range from $500 to $2,000. The first instance of Drunk driving is considered a misdemeanor.
That’s not all. Drivers could also have their license suspended or be required to have an Ignition interlock device. Again, drinking and driving is never a good idea. This is especially true because of all the options people have nowadays to get home safely after a night out.
