from Purdue University
Blood alcohol levels are only one measure
of alcohol impairment. That is the
message from Julia Chester, a Purdue
University professor who studies genetic
differences and sensitivity to the effects of
alcohol. She says impairment means the
driver’s reflexes and attention are limited,
but someone who has been drinking could
also be impaired by the withdrawal effects
or fatigue from alcohol, even if the level of
alcohol in their blood drops to a legal level.
Chester says this is especially something
to consider for people who have been
drinking all day in hot weather, such as
during a weekend party. The buzz may be
gone, but the aftereffects of consuming so
much alcohol could still hinder your ability
to drive a car. Various individual
considerations that relate to alcohol
impairment include how much food a
person has consumed, medications taken
and how rested.