CDE Alcohol, Drugs & Impaired Driving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How does alcohol affect a driver's reaction time at a BAC of 0.08%?
- Reaction time is unaffected at this BAC
- Reaction time improves slightly due to reduced anxiety
- Reaction time is significantly slowed, increasing stopping distance (Correct answer)
- Only night-time reaction time is affected
Correct answer: Reaction time is significantly slowed, increasing stopping distance
At 0.08% BAC, reaction time is significantly slowed, which at highway speeds can add tens of feet to stopping distance and dramatically increase crash risk.
Question 2: Which of the following prescription medications most commonly warns users NOT to operate heavy machinery or drive?
- Antibiotics such as amoxicillin
- Benzodiazepines and opioid pain relievers (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure medications only
- Vitamins and supplements
Correct answer: Benzodiazepines and opioid pain relievers
Benzodiazepines and opioid pain relievers cause sedation, impaired coordination, and slowed reaction times, making it dangerous to drive while taking them.
Question 3: A driver with a BAC above the legal limit causes a fatal crash. Under most state laws, what is the most serious criminal charge they could face?
- Reckless driving
- Vehicular manslaughter or DUI homicide (Correct answer)
- Simple DUI only
- Civil liability only
Correct answer: Vehicular manslaughter or DUI homicide
Causing a fatal crash while driving under the influence typically results in charges of vehicular manslaughter or DUI homicide, which carry substantial prison sentences.
Question 4: What is an ignition interlock device (IID) and when is it typically required?
- A GPS tracker required for all new teen drivers
- A breathalyzer connected to the ignition that prevents starting if BAC is above a threshold, often required after DUI conviction (Correct answer)
- A device that limits vehicle speed, used for commercial drivers
- An alcohol sensor installed in school zones only
Correct answer: A breathalyzer connected to the ignition that prevents starting if BAC is above a threshold, often required after DUI conviction
An IID requires the driver to provide a breath sample before and during driving; the vehicle will not start if BAC exceeds a preset limit, and it is commonly mandated after DUI convictions.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'standard field sobriety test' (SFST) battery used by law enforcement?
- A written multiple-choice test administered at the police station
- Three standardized physical tests: HGN, Walk-and-Turn, and One-Leg Stand (Correct answer)
- A breathalyzer test conducted at roadside
- A blood test taken at the hospital
Correct answer: Three standardized physical tests: HGN, Walk-and-Turn, and One-Leg Stand
The NHTSA-standardized SFST battery consists of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk-and-Turn, and One-Leg Stand tests to detect impairment.
Question 6: How does marijuana impairment differ from alcohol impairment in terms of detection and driving risk?
- Marijuana impairment is easily measured with a roadside breathalyzer like alcohol
- Marijuana impairs lane tracking and reaction time but lacks a reliable standardized roadside test correlating THC level to impairment (Correct answer)
- Marijuana has no measurable effect on driving performance
- Marijuana only impairs driving when combined with alcohol
Correct answer: Marijuana impairs lane tracking and reaction time but lacks a reliable standardized roadside test correlating THC level to impairment
Marijuana impairs driving by affecting lane tracking, reaction time, and attention, but no standardized roadside test reliably correlates blood THC levels to actual impairment.
Question 7: What does NHTSA data show about the relationship between alcohol and traffic fatalities in the United States?
- Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for less than 5% of traffic deaths
- Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for roughly one-third of all U.S. traffic fatalities annually (Correct answer)
- Alcohol-related fatalities have increased every year for the past decade
- Alcohol is primarily a factor in pedestrian crashes, not vehicle crashes
Correct answer: Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for roughly one-third of all U.S. traffic fatalities annually
NHTSA data consistently shows that alcohol-impaired driving causes approximately one-third (around 32–38%) of all U.S. traffic fatalities each year.
CDE Alcohol, Drugs & Impaired Driving 2
How does alcohol affect a driver's reaction time at a BAC of 0.08%?