1997 Buick Riviera Owner's Manual - Page 166

Drunkel lg Death andi n ~ ~associated with drinking and driving ry is a national tragedy. It's number one contributor tothe the highway deathtoll, claiming thousandsof victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: Judgment 0 The obvious way to solve this highway safety problem drink alcohol and then drive. But is for people never to what if people do? How much is "too much" if the driver plansto,drive? It's alot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information the problem. on The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) someone of who is drinking depends upon four things: The amount of alcohol consumed 0 0 MuscularCoordination Vision Attentiveness. The drinker's body weight The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking 0 0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to Police records show that almost halfall motor of consume the alcohol. In vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. most cases, these deaths are result of someone who was drinking According to the American Medical Association, a the and driving.In recent years, some 17,000 annual motor 180-lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use (355 ml) bottlesof beer in an hour will end up with a of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. BAC of about0.06 percent. The person would reach the s m e BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses Many adults-- by some estimates, nearly half adult the of wine or three mixed drinks each had 1-1/2 ounces if drink alcohol, so they population -- choose never to (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka. never drive after drinking. persons under 21, it's For U against the law in every S . state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasonsfor these laws. 4-3