The effect of alcohol on the brain slows down the time you need to react – quite simply you need more time to respond to situations and risks. If you drive a car (or a motorcycle or even a bicycle), the “thinking distance” increases. For example, if a cat passes in front of the car, there is a slight delay between the time you see danger and the time you put your foot on the brake. The distance that the car travels in this interval is the "thinking distance." It is estimated that even one drink can increase this distance by up to 20%.
According to surveys, drivers who have consumed alcohol above the legal limits will face any and/or all of the following if they drive:
- They will underestimate the distance and speed of other vehicles on the road
- Their eyesight will be affected
- Reaction time will be slowed and
- It is almost certain that they will overestimate their abilities