Safer Roads, Smarter Choices: Tackling Drink-Driving
What’s the harm? The Dangers of Drink-Driving (209 Words)
It’s late; you’ve been out drinking and now you’re sitting behind the wheel, debating whether you should drive home. You know you’re probably over Cayman’s legal limit, and that driving under the influence is a bad idea—but you feel fine, and that misplaced false confidence pushes
you to drive drunk anyway.
You start the short journey home, driving faster than you should along one of Cayman’s narrow roads. Suddenly, someone steps out in front of you. You hit the brakes, but your slowed reaction time betrays you.
A lot of people don’t realise the effects that alcohol has on the part of your brain associated with judgement and decision-making; sober you knows drink-driving is dangerous, but impaired judgment creates a false sense of ability that puts you – and every other road user – at risk.
In this iteration of our safe driving blogs for Cayman's ongoing National Road Safety Campaign, we’re speaking directly to those who still choose to drink and drive. We want you and your friends to make the smart decision: plan ahead, avoid drink-driving, and choose a safer way home: designate a driver, take a taxi, or call a friend. Remember: it’s always smarter to get home safely than to never make it home at all.
What Happens When We Drink? (110 Words)
Many of the functions we rely on to be safe on the roads are affected when we try to drive impaired after consuming alcohol:
- Our brain takes longer to process what we see, so we react more slowly to hazards than when sober.
- Even after noticing the danger, it takes extra time for the brain to recognize that action is needed.
- Once the brain decides to act, sending instructions to our muscles—like pressing the brake—also takes longer.
- In those crucial seconds, it can be too late, turning the accident we might have been able to avoid had we made the smart decision ends up having a reckless outcome.
Is Beer vs. Liquor: Which Is Safer for Driving? (124 Words)
A common misconception when it comes to drink-driving is that drinking beer is safer because it has less alcohol than a glass of wine or a shot glass of liquor. This isn’t true. One drink is one drink – they are all equal. It’s also important to remember that nothing can speed up the process of sobering up, no matter what the myths say. Coffee, cold showers, deep fried food: none of it sobers you up any faster. Only your liver can process alcohol... Your body needs time – nothing else works. Just because coffee might make you feel more awake doesn’t mean you’re safe to drive. Feeling alert is not the same as being sober – alert does not equal safe; alert does not equal unimpaired.
The Legal Limit (204 Words)
Did you know that in 2022, the Government lowered the legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit from 0.1% to 0.07%? This change brought Cayman’s DUI laws in line with global best practices, introducing stricter measures than those in the UK and US, and demonstrating the Government’s commitment to reducing the social acceptability of drink-driving in Cayman. Under the new limit, if your blood is tested after an accident, you cannot have more than 70 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Exceeding this limit can result in a DUI charge, with penalties including a $1,000 fine, attend a court-mandated DUI programme, up to six months in prison, and a minimum 12-month driving ban. This means you won’t be able to drive to work, school, or the shops.
Even though 0.07% is the legal limit, the only truly safe BAC is 0.00%. If you plan to drink, plan not to drive. Even one drink begins to affect your judgment, coordination, and reaction time, and the risk of driving while impaired is never worth it. And remember – even if you aren’t at fault for causing the accident, the police could still test everyone for DUI and, if you are over the limit, you will be arrested.
Take the Safe Option (68 Words)
Next time you’re out, commit to keeping our roads safe before taking your first drink—never drive under the influence. If you know you’re going to be drinking, plan with your friend: designate a driver who won’t be tempted to drink, call a taxi, or arrange for a family member to pick you up.
Frequently Asked Questions:
“How does alcohol affect driving reaction time?”
- When you drink alcohol, even one sip immediately begins to affect your reaction time by slowing your reflexes, dulling your vision, and impairing judgment.
“What is the legal drink-driving limit in the Cayman Islands?”
- The legal blood-alcohol limit is 0.07% in Cayman, meaning you cannot have more than 70 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in your system.
“How much alcohol counts as one drink?”
- When you order a pint of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of liquor, it all counts as one drink, even though they vary in strength and size.
"Is beer safer than liquor when driving?”
- No, this is a myth. Drinking a pint of beer is the same as drinking a shot of liquor. They both make you impaired, and you begin to become impaired as soon as you begin drinking any alcohol.
For more information and other tips on safe driving in the Cayman Islands, visit our website: gov.ky/roadsafety and remember: Stay sober: Smart doesn't drink.
