Impaired and Distracted Driving

Alcohol and Blood Alcohol Concentration

Driving under the influence (DUI) means driving while affected by alcohol or drugs. Washington's penalties are severe: heavy fines, higher insurance, license suspension and even jail. Alcohol- and drug-related offenses stay on your driving record for life.

The legal limits

• Age 21 and over: a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more is a DUI.
• Under 21: a BAC of 0.02% or more carries the same consequences, which in practice is zero tolerance.
• You can still be convicted below these numbers if your driving is affected.

Implied consent: by driving in Washington you have agreed to be tested when an officer suspects alcohol or drugs. Refusing a test costs you your license for 90 to 730 days, or until you turn 21, whichever is longer, and the refusal can be used as evidence.

"Physical control" counts: even in a parked car, if you are able to control the engine or operation, such as sitting in the driver's seat with the keys, you can be charged with DUI. "Sleeping it off" in the car is not safe.

How alcohol affects driving: relaxation and drowsiness, blurred vision, slower reactions, reduced concentration and scanning, trouble doing two things at once (like holding your lane while watching traffic), difficulty understanding what is happening, and overconfidence that leads to risky choices. No amount of experience lets a driver drive safely after drinking.

Open container law: it is an infraction for anyone in a vehicle on the road to drink alcohol or use cannabis, to possess alcohol or cannabis products that are open, unsealed or partly used, or to hide them in unlabeled or mislabeled containers. Open products may be carried only in the trunk or truck bed, never in a compartment the driver can reach.

A conviction can bring: suspension for 90 days to 4 years, a probationary license, an ignition interlock device before you may drive, proof of financial responsibility, alcohol assessment and treatment, and reapplying for your license with the knowledge and skills tests again.

So: do not drive any vehicle after drinking; do not ride with a driver who has; do not let friends or family drive impaired; plan a sober driver in advance.

Cannabis and Medications

Cannabis: recreational use is legal in Washington at 21 and over, but driving after using cannabis is illegal at every age. There is no safe amount of cannabis for driving.

• Age 21 and over: more than 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood is a DUI.
• Under 21: any detectable active THC is a DUI.
• Cannabis reduces attention, reaction time and coordination, degrades car handling, impairs distance judgment and increases drowsiness. Edibles, patches, vapes and tinctures all count.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs: "legal" does not mean "safe to drive on." Headache, cold and allergy medicines cause drowsiness; prescription drugs affect reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness. A DUI does not depend on whether the drug was prescribed, bought over the counter or illegal.

• Do not drive when you first start a prescription, switch to a new one or increase the dose. Wait until you know how it affects your judgment, coordination and reaction time.
• Read every warning label. "Do not operate heavy machinery" includes driving.
• Some drugs are harmless alone but cause severe impairment with a second drug or alcohol. Ask your pharmacist before combining medicine and alcohol.

Polydrug use: mixing alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicine or other substances multiplies the effects far beyond any one of them. Polydrug use is the most common impairment in fatal crashes.

Washington's Distracted Driving Law

Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distractions come from four directions: inside the car (phones, eating, the radio, passengers), outside (billboards, crashes, other people's behavior), physical (fatigue, discomfort) and mental (daydreaming, worry, strong emotions).

Distracted drivers drift out of their lane, speed up and slow down, miss signals, stop signs, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, and follow too closely.

The law

• You may not hold any electronic device while driving: phones, tablets and gaming devices included. It applies to every driver regardless of age or experience.
• Waiting at a red light is still driving. No holding the phone there either.
• Hands-free use and a single touch are allowed, but anything that takes your eyes and mind off the road is still dangerous.
• The first violation brings a heavy fine, a repeat doubles it, and it is reported to your insurer.
• Other distractions such as eating, grooming or reading add a further fine when they accompany a traffic violation.
• Teens with an intermediate license may not use even hands-free devices, except to report an emergency.

Avoiding distraction: plan the route, navigation and music before you leave; silence the phone and put it out of reach; stay observant. Full attention means faster reactions, better decisions, stronger awareness and less stress and fatigue.

Fatigue, Emotions and Road Rage

Drowsy driving impairs vision and judgment like alcohol does, and it can put you to sleep at the wheel. Pull over and rest if you notice:

• Trouble focusing, or not remembering the last few miles
• Frequent blinking, heavy eyelids, trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating or hitting rumble strips
• Missing exits or signs
• Restlessness, irritability or aggression

Driving alone and tired, pull off and take a 20-minute nap. Before a long trip sleep 7 to 9 hours, plan a stop every 100 miles or 2 hours to walk, get fresh air and drink water, and share the driving when you can.

Emotions: anxiety or anger changes your driving without your noticing, such as a heavier foot on the gas. Before you set off, breathe slowly in the parked car or count backward from 100 by threes to settle your attention. Leave plenty of time and be patient with yourself and others.

Aggressive driving is a traffic offense: deliberately doing something that endangers people or property, including speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, improper signaling, ignoring traffic control devices and crowding pedestrians or bicyclists.

Road rage is a crime: anger about something on the road that turns into violence with a vehicle or another weapon. Street racing and unauthorized street demonstrations carry severe penalties too, for participants and anyone who assists: fines, jail and vehicle impoundment.

If you meet a road rager: distance yourself physically and mentally. Breathe, move out of the way, avoid speeding, honking or gestures, and keep your eyes on the road. If you feel followed or harassed, drive to a place with people and open businesses and call the police if needed. Report a road rage incident in progress by calling 911 with the location, plate, direction of travel, vehicle colors and what happened.