Alcohol and the body
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Alcohol and driving
The link between driving ability and alcohol
impairment is probably the most intensely studied area with respect
to the effect of alcohol on cognitive functions.
Driving is a complex task involving the integration
and coordination of many skills and abilities.
It involves dynamic and continuous interaction between the driver
and his or her vehicle and the environment. It requires swift
and accurate transfer of data from the environment to the driver,
the processing of information, decisions, if any, on how to respond
and the translation of any decisions into physical action.
Impairment at low BAC levels
The scientific community is unable to replicate
the real-world driving task (an over-learned task).
To assess the effects of alcohol on the ability
to drive, researchers have disassembled the driving function into
theoretical parts for study. Although there is some evidence that
impairment in some individuals may begin at low BAC levels, this
data must be treated with some caution. What is clear, however,
is that most persons with a BAC of 100 mg% would suffer some impairment.
Disclaimer: The material on this site is not intended as legal advice. It merely conveys general information on legal issues commonly encountered by persons facing criminal charges in Canada. If you are charged with an offence, you should contact a criminal lawyer.
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