Attempting to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is very dangerous. Massive campaigns have been rolled out to ensure all motorists know that alcohol prevents one from being able to drive safely.
These campaigns play an important role in reducing accident rates throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the country. However, there is an argument to be made that the prominence of these campaigns has had an unexpected consequence. Because we all know that driving drunk is extremely risky, many jump to the conclusion that walking drunk is a safer option. If someone has had a few too many during a night out, they might genuinely feel they are making the responsible decision by choosing to walk home instead of getting behind the wheel.
This isn’t necessarily the case. Yes, they absolutely should not drive if they are intoxicated. This doesn’t mean they are any safer if they choose to walk instead. Keep reading to understand why.
Walking While Drunk: More Dangerous Than You Think
It’s worth noting that driving while drunk doesn’t merely put you in danger. It also endangers the lives of your passengers and those of anyone else sharing the road with you. You should never under any circumstances choose to operate a motor vehicle when you are even buzzed.
That said, in regard to your own personal safety, walking around while intoxicated is still quite risky. This is particularly true in a busy city like Boston. Some statistical analyses even suggest that walking while drunk can put you at greater risk of injury or death than driving drunk can.
When you’re intoxicated, your judgment is impaired. This can make the simple act of crossing the street far more dangerous than it would normally be. If you’re even slightly drunk, you might begin to feel invincible. This feeling that no harm can befall you may cause you to rush out in front of traffic to cross the street. If you were sober, and your judgment was thus more sound, you might responsibly notice that oncoming traffic is too close, and you should wait until you have time to cross safely before doing so. In fact, when you’re intoxicated, your ability to properly determine if oncoming traffic is too close for safety will probably be limited anyway.
You must also account for the fact that being intoxicated renders a simple task like walking a straight line far more difficult than it might otherwise be. If you’re walking along the sidewalk on a busy street while under the influence of alcohol, you could easily stumble into the path of a vehicle whose driver does not have time to stop before hitting you.
The main point to take away from all of this isn’t that driving drunk is safer than walking drunk. While you should always strive to avoid becoming very intoxicated when you’re out anyway if you do find yourself too drunk to drive, call a taxi or use public transportation to get home safely.
Still, even if you make responsible choices, you might be harmed in a pedestrian accident if someone else is not as responsible as you are. Our pedestrian accident attorneys at Colucci Colucci & Marcus, P.C. are on hand to help you pursue any compensation for which you may be eligible if this ever does happen. To schedule your free initial consultation, contact us online or call us at (617) 698-6000.
