Driving is an activity that requires a particular degree of focus and training in order to do it properly. Sometimes, it can become an instinct of sorts and as such you may know what to do at any particular time. This might make the notion of multitasking something that is tempting. Unfortunately, things such as texting or putting on makeup can potentially be risky when you do it while driving, and all the more if you drive while drunk. However, understanding the full implications of these are best understood if you get a basic idea on what happens in your brain when alcohol is involved while driving.
Do understand however that the facts below aren’t necessarily for everyone, as people have varying degrees of alcohol tolerance that should be taken into consideration, as well as other conditions that alcohol can affect. As such, it’s best to consult a doctor or a medical professional about the specifics of alcohol consumption before or while driving.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, or the NCADD, said that it’s important to understand just what happens to the body when alcohol is consumed in order to understand its effects on your functions in day to day living. However, it’s also important to consider the dangers of alcohol when involving tasks that can potentially be harmful to others, such as drunk driving.
It’s relevant to take note that drinking alcohol in itself isn’t bad. It’s only when alcohol is consumed too much that it’s become a dependence that can make it become qualified as an “addiction.” However to casually drink alcohol to get the occasional relaxing vibe isn’t entirely bad.
Unfortunately, it’s when alcohol affects the body and mind that’s supposed to retain focus while driving that’s the problem. This is because drivers have a responsibility not just to their cars but to other drivers and pedestrians as well, the way pedestrians also have their own rules to follow.
Alcohol: The Basics
Alcohol is something that’s called a depressant. This means it slows down the central nervous system, which is composed of major organs such as the brain. As the brain is the one controlling our primary functions, alcohol dampens the brain’s connections in order to “depress” high level activity, which leads to that tipsy yet relaxing feeling. Alcohol in the brain can affect things like:
reaction times and vigilance, and concentration also tends to be decreased. This is why drunk people are sometimes barely able to perform tasks that require focus.
The feeling of drowsiness and relaxation is very common after consuming alcohol, causing the urge to sleep.
Multitasking suffers with alcohol exposure as a dampened nervous system can’t focus on tasks appropriately.
However, as alcohol also allows the body to release endorphins or our feel good hormones, alcohol consumption can also lead to overconfidence, which elevates the odds of risk taking.
When applied to drunk driving, all these effects on the brain mean that the driver in question isn’t going to being able to focus and multitask on one task, which is not exactly the kind of driver that gives a guarantee of following rules and basics.
Alcohol: The Statistics
According to the US Department of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, research states that there’s evidence that skills related to driving really do tend to be reduced when alcohol is consumed. For instance, vision and tracking can become impaired due to exposure to alcohol.
The ability to see objects in fine detail along with the contrasting movements of the eyes and their overall control tends to be impaired. This more or less extends to tracking abilities, which impairs a driver’s ability to maintain their position with respect to the changes in their surroundings.
Drivers also have impaired perception and vigilance when consuming alcohol. Their level of watchfulness or alertness with respect to a given task can become decreased, as their ability to process information is also lessened.
Perhaps scariest is the reality that motor skills relevant to driving are affected as well. Undivided attention due to alcohol consumption is lessened, as the ability to focus on more tasks are lessened. Not to mention psychomotor skills, or the ability to coordinate physical tasks at the same time.
These factors, combined together, can potentially affect a person’s overall capabilities to drive. Alcohol consumption can be good when done without having to drive, as the latter is extremely risky, and not to mention may impose penalties on you when you are caught. If you are wondering about how alcohol will affect your body in general, it may be best to ask a physician about the full effects of drunk driving on your system. You may also confer with a lawyer such as those here as to just how traffic laws are incorporated into these health effects, including in cases such as driving under influence.
Conclusion
Sometimes, it’s hard to be convinced of things when you don’t necessarily “see” how it can directly affect you, and as such some people find it hard to believe things unless they see them for themselves. In the case of when alcohol is involved while driving, some who have been a bit reckless and “successfully” drove home while intoxicated may tell you that the “threat” isn’t exactly as what people describe. So maybe the above realities on what happens in your brain when you drive while intoxicated can at least help clear your head on the dangers of drunk driving, and perhaps why traffic laws are strict about people who commit these acts.
April Sears
April Sears has been a law writer for more than two decades, and she is currently working on her next piece. She also writes pieces on law topics for the common reader. April is family woman, and she loves spending her free time with her family.
Rock climbing is a sport which is becoming incredibly popular amongst many in this day and age. If you fancy giving this fun, full contact sport a try this year, here are some of the tips you need to take into account…
The climbing gym
Don’t just find the nearest rock edge in your area and start climbing. Climbing can be dangerous and it involves a lot of skill and practice. When you start out, head to a gym which has a climbing wall section or even a climbing class where you can be taught the basics in climbing. Reach out to other climbers and try to learn from them the best way to approach the wall.
Bust the jargon
If you are serious about getting into rock climbing, you need to start learning the lingo. For example the best rock climbing shoes are ones which are made with smooth soles and sticky rubber. This helps your grips and movability on the wall. A harness is a rope with a belt and loop attaches which will allow you to climb without worrying about hurting yourself. A belay is a device used for when climbers are securing a rope for another to ascend, and to control the slide down on a rope to the ground.
Perfect your moves
Before you step out onto real rock, make sure you have perfected your moves and you know exactly what you are doing. It will take time to become comfortable enough to step outside, but once you do you should be skilled and ready for the challenge.
Understand the risk
Climbing is a dangerous sport. You need to make sure that when you do finally get outside. You recognise the risks of the sport and don’t try to jump in too early. Stick with simple walls to start with until you have nailed the technique and then slowly work your way up to the big boys.
Go with a crew
Rather than simple going out on your own and finding a wall you think you’d like to climb, try joining a group of experienced climbers and climb with them. This will be a great learning curve for you because you will be able to watch what they do and they will be there to guide you if you are struggling with it.
Don’t rely on others
Although it is advisable for you to listen to the advice of more experienced climbers, you don’t want to be depending on them for your safety. You need to learn how to tie knots, check your anchors and secure your harness yourself. This way you have the peace of mind that you are safer when you go out alone.
Don’t focus on the fear
It might seem like an impossibility to ever go rock climbing if you are afraid of heights or scared of falling, but just remember that these are innate fears which everyone has, and they keep us alive. Push past your fears and focus on what you can achieve.
If you visit any college in the land, you’re likely to come across lots of fit young men and women sweating it away on the football, volleyball or basketball fields to make a few. You might wonder how they find the time to take sports so seriously when they have so much school work to do, but if you knew about the many benefits for college spots, you shouldn’t question it one little bit, and if you’re currently at college, you would try getting involved too! Not convinced, here are just some of the brilliant benefits of playing college sports:
Get a Scholarship
Okay, so the most commonly recognized reason for individuals to get into college sports is the scholarships that great athletes can win. Of course, unfortunately, most of us aren’t great athletes, but if you are, there’s no denying that you can benefit from free or subsidized tuition should you choose to play, so it’s well worth mentioning here.
Networking
Team sports are an excellent way to get to know new people in college. Whether you’re the shy type, someone who likes to know as many people as possible, or even someone who wants to make as many lasting connections that could help you out in the future as possible, get your name on that softball lineup card, join your college’s football team or get involved in lacrosse. Why? Because you’ll form lifelong bonds with your peers, ensuring that you have a social life/support now, and quite possibly, high powered connections to help you get along when you graduate, and you’re looking to start your career!
Many people, when they head off to college for the first time gain a lot of weight. This is probably a combination of always having had someone else cook for them and the convenience of fast food when studying for that important test. Whatever the cause, getting involved in college sports will help the average student involve college weight gain and quite possibly help to alleviate the stresses of college life too.
Do Better in Class
Did you know that playing sports can, as mentioned above, reduce stress, improve concentration and even boost your willpower? These are all skills that the average student needs to master if they want to do as well as they possibly can in class, so even if you’ve never thought of playing basketball or tennis before, give it a try, and you might just be surprised by the results.
Boost Your Resume
A lot of employers know that a person who plays sports is quite likely to have learned how to be a team player, have lots of motivation, stamina and a competitive way of thinking, amongst other things. These are all excellent qualities to have in the average workplace. So having a long history of college sports on your resume really can’t hurt.
Of course, the main reason you should consider giving college sports a go is because it’s fun. Do it for the fun and the extensive benefits will surely follow!
Is the belt on your trousers starting to feel a bit tighter? The simple truth is that your waistline is growing. If you’re happy with that then great but your health may be suffering because of it. If you let yourself get to a stage where you are clinically obese then it could result in an early death. So how are you going to go about changing that other than promising yourself you’ll try harder and let everyone know you’ve made up a silly New Year’s resolution. Here’s how…
If you need to replace the Casters on your office desk chair then it may be time to think about losing some weight. If they’ve completely collapsed in on themselves then that’s a pretty good sign you should have started doing so,etching about it yesterday. It’s often difficult to be brutally honest with yourself but it’s a necessary evil. Find some scales and do a quick bit of research into what a healthy BMI for someone your height and weight should be. If you’re tipping just over the edge then he first step is getting yourself a diet plan.
You are what should eat
That’s right, if you’re stuffing pizza and cheeseburgers down your throat then washing away the sins with fizzy drinks then you’ll be gaining pounds at lightning speed. The opposite of what you want right? A well balanced diet doesn’t just mean five a day. Extreme cases are cause for extreme measures. You really will have to start counting your calories. A great way of doing this is to prepare your food with a weekly plan and stick to it. Deny yourself those in-between meal time snacks and say no to those sweet after dinner time treats. If you’re clueless when it comes to what to eat then it could be in your best interest to seek advice from a nutritionist. Find out what’s actually good for you. There’s lots online about diet and health.
Time break a sweat
If your not already sweating at the idea of a diet plan then you soon will be. Dust of that gym membership card and put it to use. Exercise can be as simple as walking. If your doing it daily it will all add up. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see change immediately. These things take time and your already stepping yourself in the right direction. Sports are another great way of getting out the house, losing a few pounds and making some great friends in the process. Have a look online if there are any clubs near you that host your favourite sport. People are always looking for new members to build up the team. If you’ve got kids then why not help out or join a team together.
Don’t leave it till tomorrow or say you’ll start next week. Start now and give your body the best chance it can get. Your fit future self won’t be able to thank you enough.
Do you ever think that maybe you should try a little harder to be more active in your life? Even though we all know that leading an active lifestyle with plenty of exercise is the best way to stay fit and healthy, there are still a few people out there who aren’t putting in as much effort as perhaps they should. Do you think that you are one of them? In that case, you might need to look for some great inspiration to help you get off the couch.
One of the best places to look for inspiration is the world of sport. There are so many inspiring sports men and women out there, all of whom we should look up to when it comes to getting fit and healthy. Ready to be inspired by some truly excellent players and athletes? Read on for more!
If you ask anyone who the most inspiring American sportsman in history is, they might mention Pat Tillman. Unfortunately, his story is a sad one. He started his American football career with the Arizona Cardinals. However, after just his fourth season with the team, he enlisted in the American army. He decided to change his career path after being deeply affected by the events of 9/11. Unfortunately, only two years after joining up, he was killed in action in Afghanistan. Still to this day, though, Tillman’s memory lives on and he is often quoted as being one of the most inspiring and patriotic football players that America has ever seen.
It’s impossible to think about tennis without thinking about the two Williams sisters. These are two of the best-known tennis players that have ever been, and when you look back at their careers there is no wonder why. Just take Venus Williams for example. Thanks to her brilliant strength, determination, and achievement, she has helped to change the face of women’s tennis for the better. Her serve reached the 100 miles per hour mark at the tender age of just ten years old! That’s impressive, even for adults! In 1997, she was the very first unseeded player to make it to the finals of an Open. She finally won Wimbledon in 2000 and has been inspiring young girls to make it in the world of tennis ever since!
When you are buying the best baseball gloves, you might want to look for a pair from a brand that was popular with a favorite player. Well, why not look for the brand of gloves that Josh Hamilton used to wear? He has played for a number of different clubs over the years, including the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, and the Angeles Angels of Anaheim. However, his career has had its own ups and downs, including a set back after he suffered from a drug addiction. Those down times haven’t been enough to completely derail Hamilton, though, and he continues to work as a professional baseball player and still inspires many fans to this very day!
You might have heard quite a bit about Caster Semenya as she has been in the news for the past couple of years. This South African runner is one of the world’s best middle-distance runners. She even won the gold medal for the 800 metres at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. However, Semenya has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. It is widely believed that Semenya suffers from hyperandrogenism which means that she has very high levels of testosterone in her body. This makes her much faster than her fellow female competitors. Because of this, there have been many calls for her to take hormone treatments or to stop competing as she has an unfair advantage. But Semenya isn’t going to let any of this negativity from her competitors get her down and she continues to compete to this day. Her attitude in such adverse situations is something that everyone should aspire to!
Muhammad Ali has to be one of the most famous boxers ever. He was also one of the best that ever stepped into a ring as well! He was the heavyweight champion of the world and at the height of his career was a complete legend in the ring. His fights against George Foreman and Joe Frazier were some of the most hotly anticipated that have ever been in the world of boxing. But it’s not just Ali’s fantastic sporting achievements that we should admire and look up to – he was also a very generous philanthropist as well! In fact, he was such a great philanthropist, that he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Sadly, Ali died in 2016 after suffering from Parkinson’s for his last couple of decades.
Of course, there are some sports people out there who have to overcome some very serious health conditions. Sometimes, disabilities or illnesses can completely sidetrack someone’s career, but there are others out there who are so strong that they are able to get their career right back on track. Just take Bethany Hamilton as an example. She grew up in Hawaii and her family were always very keen surfers. Unfortunately, though, Hamilton was viciously attacked by a shark at the age of 13. Thankfully, she managed to escape with her life, but she lost an arm in the attack. That didn’t stop Hamilton wanting to make a career for herself in the world of surfing, though. She managed to keep on surfing, despite her disability. Only two years after her devastating attack, she managed to compete in the Explorer Women’s Division of the NSSA National Championships. She came first in the whole competition and was able to tell her inspiring story to a wider audience as a result.
Hopefully, the athletes mentioned above can really inspire you to get out there and be a bit more active in your life. It’s never too late to start with sport – there’s still time to be a champion!
The thought of spending every Saturday coaching a team of eight-year-olds of varying abilities may fill you with dread. However, helping out with your child’s baseball, soccer or football team might be more worthwhile than you think. You might work hard during the week and value the downtime you have at the weekend, but that is more reason to volunteer. You don’t see your kids much from Monday to Friday, so it might pay to spend a few hours on Saturday morning with your kid’s little league team.
There’s nothing better than bonding with your offspring over a common passion. You might love heading down to the dojo and helping out the sensei with the kids. You could be setting up the pads, overseeing light sparring or helping out with drills. If your son or daughter is rapidly progressing through the martial arts belts, it’s heartwarming to be there with them and share in their joy and pride. Being part of their important childhood activities will give you both lifelong memories to keep and share.
It’s The Right Thing To Do
Schools across the nation are poorly funded, and those teachers and professionals that work with your child often give their own time on a weekend to set up extracurricular clubs. While they might need to spend some of the sporting budget on custom baseball uniforms for the little league team, they have no money to hire professional coaches to train the kids. This is where you and tens of other dads come in. By taking charge of pitching or batting, you can have an input into the team, and get invested. You’ll find yourself wanting to attend games, keep up with the league table and have a say in team selection.
Your Child Will Love It
They might not say it, and yes, you will be a tad embarrassing at times, but they will adore having you with them and taking a real interest in what they love to do. If you’re helping out at a soccer session, you might be imparting your offside rule knowledge onto the team while your son or daughter is practicing their dribbling skills. As you catch their eye and give them a thumbs up and a cheeky wink, you can see the pride they feel from the look on their face. Being a supportive parent is more than just saying the right words, it’s about being there and motivating your offspring from the sidelines.
Volunteering is an altruistic notion. By helping out with your child’s sports teams and extracurricular activities, you can take an integral role in helping them succeed in their chosen physical activity. While initially the thought of your treasured Saturday mornings being taken up with a bunch of unruly kids scares the living daylights out of you, take a step back and think about the bonding opportunity you will have with your little one. You may even come to enjoy the volunteering experience.
April Sears has been a law writer for more than two decades, and she is currently working on her next piece. She also writes pieces on law topics for the common reader. April is family woman, and she loves spending her free time with her family. 
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