Many people assume that it is okay to drive after a night of heavy drinking. Even though you slept well and feel sober, numerous factors could greatly impact your ability to safely navigate while behind the wheel. Allowing your body proper rest time to recover is the most effective solution in this situation.
What to expect after a heavy drinking session?
Taking a cold shower, having high amounts of caffeine or going for a run are “popular cures” used to diminish hangovers and increase alertness following a drunk night. But these remedies only create a temporary illusion of alertness. Therefore, it is safer to look at the practical signs to check whether you are safe to hit the road:
- Sleep deprivation: Alcohol severely disrupts your sleep. When you wake up with fatigue without getting proper rest, it drastically slows down your reaction time and impairs situational awareness behind the wheel.
- Dehydration or headaches: A throbbing head and thirst resulting from a hangover could make it incredibly difficult to focus on the road while driving in fast-moving traffic.
- Cognitive dizziness: Light sensitivity and nausea after a heavy drinking session could generally mean that your brain is processing information much slower than usual and could affect the way you operate a vehicle.
Even a negative breathalyzer doesn’t necessarily protect a driver from criminal charges in Illinois. If severe fatigue, hangover or other factors contribute to driving that shows willful disregard for the safety of others, the court might pursue reckless driving charges based on the driver’s conduct.
Knowing what to do next
Alcohol affects people differently. While some may be able to function normally after a heavy night of drinking, many others struggle to stay steady behind the wheel. If you ever find yourself facing charges in a situation such as this, it’s important to secure legal representation immediately. An experienced DUI attorney could help you understand your legal standing and available options to consider moving forward.