City of Ames, IA
Home MenuImpaired Driving
Impaired driving can cause property damage, injuries, and even death. Impaired judgment, motor control, and vision make the difficult task of driving safely near impossible. Prevent a bad situation for you, and others, by designating a sober driver or using other modes of transportation if you choose to consume alcohol.
Did you know? The human body metabolizes approximately one standard drink per hour. The image below shows how many standard drinks are included in what you might be drinking.
Simple math will show that drinking more than one standard drink per hour can quickly increase the amount of alcohol in your system, and therefore effecting your ability to drive. Higher concentration drinks increase this effect.
For example: If you are drinking margaritas and have one per hour (1 margarita = 3 standard drinks) after the first hour you have 2 drinks left in your system
(3 - 1 consumed by your body = 2)
Drink another the next hour and you now have 4 drinks left in your system
(2 from the first drink + 3 more - 1 consumed by your body = 4)
The following chart shows how the number of drinks translates to Blood Alcohol Concentration
Alcohol effects everyone differently. Even an individual can be affected by alcohol differently from day to day for a variety of reasons. If you have to do math to decide if you should be driving...don't drive. It isn't worth it.
The Ames Police Department uses funds from the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau to conduct extra enforcement for impaired drivers. Please drink responsibly and designate a sober driver.
Helpful Links