A common way to celebrate events or spend time with friends is to go out drinking at a local bar or have drinks with dinner at a restaurant. Sometimes, friends have too many alcoholic drinks, making it unsafe or illegal for them to operate a motor vehicle. The nationwide legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08. If someone is caught driving under the influence (DUI), they will be arrested and will face both criminal and administrative charges. Aside from legal problems, the drunk driver is in danger of causing a car accident and injuring or killing themselves or someone else. This not only leads to them needing a Florida criminal defense attorney, but they could go to jail and lose their driver’s license if convicted.

If a friend is exhibiting certain behaviors, they may be unable to safely drive home. Here are a few obvious signs that they should not drive.

Slurred Speech

Alcohol affects speech. When the spoken words and syllables run together or do not make sense, this is a sign of intoxication. Listen for the beginnings and endings of words to be omitted or overly emphasized.

Balance

If someone is unable to stand up and stand still on their own that usually has no difficulty doing so, they may be drunk. Holding on to chairs, tables or other people to keep from falling over is a telltale sign of intoxication.

Consumption

When someone is consuming more than one alcoholic drink per hour, they should not be driving. Most human bodies cannot process alcohol faster than one alcoholic drink per hour. Although some people have higher metabolism rates than others, it is better to be safe and not drive if there is any possibility of impairment.

Walking

When the friend in question walks across the room, be on the lookout for swaying, stumbling and ability to walk in a straight line. If any of these symptoms exist, they could put themselves and others by driving a vehicle in this condition.

Sleepiness

Falling asleep while sitting down or standing up is a sign of intoxication. It is also a sign that the person may fall asleep at the wheel. Someone lying down on the floor or uncomfortable place during public activities is also a sign of impairment.

Confusion

People who do not know where they are or whom they are with are probably not able to drive home. Serious time lapse in the response time to a simple question is often a warning sign.

Fumbling

When someone fumbles for their keys or drops their drink, this may be a sign of impaired motor coordination. If they cannot pick up their car keys or unlock the door, they likely cannot operate the vehicle either.

In the event a friend shows signs they are unable to drive, help them find another way home. Even if they are not showing these signs of impairment, they may be unfit to operate a motor vehicle. When there is any doubt or question, it is best to make an alternative plan.