WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Many are aware of the increase in alcohol-related U.S. traffic fatalities on New Year's Eve, but myths about drinking and driving persist, says a report.
The report of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that how alcohol affects the brain and body provide important information that challenges many commonly held -- but incorrect -- beliefs.
Myth: You can drive as long as you are not slurring words or acting erratically.
Fact: The skills and coordination needed for driving are compromised long before the obvious signs of intoxication are visible. In addition, the sedative effects of alcohol, combined with late-night hours, place you at much greater risk of nodding off or losing attention behind the wheel.
Myth: Caffeine will sober you up.
Fact: Caffeine may help with drowsiness, but it doesn't counteract the effect of alcohol on decision-making or coordination. There are no quick cures -- only time will help.
Many New Year's revelers get into trouble because they generally do not recognize that critical driving-related skills and decision-making abilities are diminished long before they begin to show the obvious physical signs of intoxication, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
