Permit Test Questions About Alcohol, Drugs, and the Law
Instructor Liz takes a look at DMV permit questions concerning drugs, alcohol, and more. Learn about the importance of not driving under the influence and the consequences that can occur if you choose to drive while impaired. Study the sobering topics of blood alcohol concentration, court actions for DUI, and DMV actions against your license.
Notes from Instructor Liz
Hi everyone! It's your girl, Liz here with Drivers Ed Direct. In today's permit test prep video we're covering the very important topic of Alcohol and Drugs.
It's necessary that you pay extra close attention to the questions we are about to cover in this video. This isn't only a matter of memorizing answers for your permit test day, but a matter of making responsible choices for the rest of your driving life. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cause some serious irreversible damage to you and others. According to the CDC, more than 10,000 people in the US die each year due to an alcohol-impaired driver. And it's not just alcohol you need to be careful with, driving while impaired by any substance can be fatal. This includes marijuana and certain prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Now that we established the importance of this matter, let's review a few points related to alcohol, drugs, and impaired driving.
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or any drug that impairs your ability to drive safely is illegal. The law does not make a distinction between prescription or over-the-counter medications and illegal drugs.
- Drinking alcohol or using drugs can impair your judgment, awareness of your surroundings and yourself, vision, and your reaction time. It can also cause impaired depth perception and increased risk-taking behind the wheel.
- Many cough syrups and cold or allergy medications can make you drowsy. Read the warning labels before you attempt to drive and be careful especially if you are combining more than one type of medication. It is your responsibility to know how medications affect you and to make responsible decisions about driving. You can be convicted of a DUI if the medication affects your ability to drive safely.
- In California, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for adult drivers and 0.01% for drivers under the age of 21.
- According to California's Zero Tolerance Law, if you are under 21 years of age and your BAC is 0.01% or higher you will lose your driving privilege for one year.
- When you drive in California, you consent to take a test of your breath or blood or, under certain circumstances, your urine if you are arrested for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.
- If you are arrested for suspected DUI and refuse an officer's request to submit to a chemical test, your driver's license will be suspended for at least one year.
The only way to help reduce the number of DUI related incidents is if every driver makes smart choices and practices responsible driving. I'm really glad you analyzed these questions with us today because it shows that you're on the right track to becoming a safe and responsible driver!
Check out the California Driver Handbook section on Alcohol and Drugs for additional info, and be sure to read through the handbook in its entirety before you take the knowledge exam at the DMV.
Once again, thanks for watching. Stay safe out there!