Drunk Students More Likely To Drive
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - If you talk to most people, especially young people, they will tell you it is foolish to drink and drive.
There is no doubt that years of public service messages have had an impact. But efforts to educate the public about the dangers of drinking and driving do not account for the fact that intoxicated and therefore judgment impaired people are ultimately making the decision to drive.
A study released just last week compared perceptions of risks of driving while drunk in 82 college students while they were sober. They then tested their willingness to drive and perceptions of risk while driving after becoming intoxicated. What they found won't shock you: alcohol impaired their ability to judge the situation, and the situation seemed less dangerous after drinking.
It gets more concerning. The more they drink, the more likely the students will be careless.
