When some people think of the typical drunk driver, they may think of someone who is in their teens or a twenty-something. People may also envision a male driver when they think about the type of person who typically drives drunk. However, it is important to bear in mind that drivers of all ages may operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, whether they are male or female. Moreover, older adults also drive drunk and may find themselves facing charges for operating while under the influence. In fact, drunk driving among older adults raises a number of issues, which we will touch on in this post.
First of all, a driver’s blood alcohol content level may be impacted by their age. As a result, an older driver could be more likely to find themselves over the legal limit and charged with drunk driving. Someone in an older age bracket may not realize that just a couple of drinks left them over the legal limit, and this could lead to very harsh consequences. The bodies of older adults may have more difficulty breaking down alcohol in their system, so it may stay in their system for longer periods of time—resulting in DUI charges if they are pulled over.
Prescription medication is another factor to consider, since many older adults take prescription drugs, and these can interact with alcohol to leave them even more intoxicated. If you are an older adult or are concerned about someone in your family who is older, it is vital to be aware of this issue and the importance of handling DUI charges carefully.
