The AAA is reminding New Year’s Eve party-goers the dangers of driving with a hangover.
AAA East Central Director of Legislative Affairs Theresa Podguski says driving hungover can be just as dangerous as driving after have a few drinks. After a night of drinking, she adds many people will wake up with alcohol still in their blood, or they will wake up tired and disoriented.
The AAA DUI Justice Link, a resource to help reduce impaired driving, indicates the only thing that will sober somebody up is time. It can take between 75-90 minutes or longer for the body to eliminate the alcohol contained in one standard-sized drink, which is longer than many people would assume.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a hangover typically begin when your blood alcohol drops significantly and is at or near zero. Officials say those symptoms can be dangerous to anybody behind the wheel, and can include:
– Fatigue and weakness
– Headaches and muscle aches
– Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
– Poor or decreased sleep
– Increased sensitivity to light and sound
– Dizziness or a sense of room spinning
– Shakiness
– Decreased ability to concentrate
Podguski advises anybody with these symptoms to not drive, regardless of whether they are recovering from a night of drinking or not.
The AAA also offers tips for avoiding a DUI this New Year’s Eve, which include:
– Make transportation arrangements before you head out of the night. Some options include: Designate a driver; Take a cab or rideshare; or Utilize public transit.
– Rent a hotel room or stay overnight where you are.
– If hosting a party, offer non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers. If possible, provide overnight accommodations to guests who have been drinking.
– Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.
– Commit to never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you suspect a driver is under the influence, officials with AAA say you should stay as far behind their vehicle as possible and as soon as it’s safe to do so, pull over and call 911. Since you can’t control the actions of other drivers on the road, officials note the best protection is to buckle up every time you get into a vehicle.
