DUI Consequences
Getting a DUI in Phoenix, AZ
Getting a DUI is a stressful event. Here’s an in-depth guide on what to expect when getting a DUI in Phoenix.
February 24, 2023
What are the psychological factors behind DUI? Why do people drink and drive? This article explores the psychological factors contributing to drunk driving, such as addiction, stress, and poor decision-making skills.
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a severe criminal offense when an individual operates a motorized vehicle while their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit.
In addition to driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI may also refer to driving under the influence of drugs. The consequences of a DUI are far-reaching, including prison time, license suspension, and heavy financial penalties such as fines and court costs.
Even those who don’t spend time behind bars often suffer from lost wages related to missed work, higher insurance rates, and other harsh repercussions that can follow someone long after their sentence is served.
All drivers should take care to avoid DUI as they can have devastating impacts on their life.
But despite the consequences, people still take the risks. So why do people drink and drive?
Addiction and substance abuse are serious health problems that can devastate people’s lives. Addiction is a compulsive reliance on a behavior or substance, such as drugs or alcohol, despite the adverse physical, psychological, social, and financial consequences it causes.
Substance abuse involves regularly consuming certain psychoactive substances in excess. This could be anything from alcohol to street drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Both addiction and substance abuse can lead to numerous severe health issues, including organ damage, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, depression, and even death.
Fortunately, recovery from these challenges is possible if sufferers receive professional help before becoming too entrenched in the addiction and substance abuse cycle.
The correlation between addiction and driving under the influence (DUI) is one that cannot be ignored.
It has been well-documented that alcohol and drug use can often lead to impaired judgment, slower reflexes, and impaired sense of coordination.
Unfortunately, this leads to many individuals getting behind the wheel, unaware of the risks and dangers associated with drunk driving or under the influence of a substance.
Further adding to this issue is that people suffering from addictions related to drugs or alcohol will be more likely to engage in activities such as drinking and driving on a regular basis, thus putting themselves and anyone else on the road at risk.
Therefore, it can be said that addiction is undoubtedly one of the major contributing factors to DUI statistical numbers increasing across the globe with each passing year.
Addiction is a chronic condition that impairs a person’s ability to make decisions, manage impulses1, and control behavior.
When someone struggles with substance abuse, impaired decision-making can lead to high-risk behaviors like driving under the influence.
In this situation, the person cannot correctly identify risks and dangers due to their addiction-altered brain chemistry and impaired judgment.
This impediment can increase the risk of causing property damage or injury and puts the person at a higher risk of legal ramifications or even death.
Therefore, acknowledging this harmful behavior and seeking treatment is essential to improving decision-making abilities to reduce risky habits such as drunk driving.
The impact addiction can have on DUIs cannot be overstated. Studies across the board have found that alcohol abuse and other addictions are significantly more likely than other factors to be behind someone’s decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, thus increasing their risk of being in an accident or otherwise causing severe harm.
According to research conducted in 2019, 25- 30% of drivers with prior convictions for DUI admitted that those charges were directly linked to their substance abuse issue.
This issue affects people of all races, gender identities, and ages, making adequate support and treatment for addiction crucial for reducing the rate of DUI instances in real life.
When driving under the influence of stress or negative emotions, individuals are more likely to make impulsive decisions that they would otherwise not make while sober.
Stress and negative emotions can impair judgment and reduce an individual’s level of self-control, leading to risk-seeking behavior such as operating a vehicle while impaired.
In addition, these factors can decrease a driver’s reaction time and create an environment where drivers are more likely to operate vehicles erratically and take unnecessary risks.
Unfortunately, these behaviors increase the risk of collisions caused by DUI, resulting in significant losses of life and property.
Therefore, motorists must practice mindful driving by recognizing how stress and negative emotions can detrimentally affect their ability to operate a vehicle safely.
It is no secret that stress and emotion can hurt our ability to make rational decisions.
Intense feelings, such as fear, anger, or anxiety, tend to increase during stressful situations and create a narrow-minded focus that impedes the flow of clear judgment or logical thought.
Due to this emotional myopia, otherwise, reasonable people may engage in inappropriate behavior that can expose them to harm or risk.
It is often only after the fact that we realize the foolishness of our decisions – when it’s already too late.
That being said, it is crucial to recognize the signs of impending emotional disruption and take steps to regulate those feelings to prevent adverse outcomes.
With so much distraction now on our roads, it is more important than ever to be aware of the risks of driving under the influence.
As such, it is essential to implement strategies for managing stress2 and regulating emotions to reduce the risk of DUI.
Some simple strategies include taking a break each day to relax, avoiding too much caffeine or alcohol intake, talking through stressful situations with a trusted confidant, and engaging in calming activities such as deep breathing or yoga. Additionally, stay aware of your feelings by journaling and regularly checking your emotions.
Lastly, when feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and actively practice self-compassion; be kind to yourself and recognize that everyone has an off day now and then.
Following these practices can significantly help reduce the likelihood of getting behind the wheel after drinking too much.
Personality traits like impulsivity and sensation-seeking can trigger dangerous real-world behaviors, such as choosing to drive under the influence.
Low Conscientiousness can also play a role in this risk-taking behavior because these individuals tend to be less conscious of the consequences of their actions.
These traits are more pronounced among those already convicted of driving under the influence, making it one of the most significant factors for identifying those at a higher risk of being involved in a DUI incident.
The combination of heightened impulsivity, a tendency for sensation seeking, low attention to consequence, and low decision-making abilities can create an ideal environment for driving under the influence.
Appropriate steps must be taken to help prevent people from showing these personality traits from operating vehicles while impaired or intoxicated.
Impulsivity is a character trait that can have harmful consequences, especially when driving. Impulsive people often make decisions without thoroughly considering the risks associated with the result of their actions.
This behavior can be hazardous when it involves getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking alcohol, not considering how impaired they may be and how this will affect their driving abilities.
As such, impulsivity contributes to an increased risk for DUI-related occurrences, putting the driver and others around them in potentially life-threatening danger.
Those who are more impulsive should take extra precautions when it comes to drinking and driving since their mentality puts them at more significant risk of making unfortunate decisions.
Sensation-seeking is the tendency to seek out intense new experiences and requires an individual to exceed existing norms.
This means those high in sensation seeking are significantly more prone to risky behaviors such as drinking and driving, resulting in a greater risk for DUI convictions.
To make matters worse, those with a tendency for thrill-seeking are less likely to consider their vulnerabilities when engaging in activities that pose more significant risks for immediate harm or legal action.
Unfortunately, those who engage in sensation-seeking behavior often fail to understand the consequences of their choices until it is too late.
Thus, an activity linked to DUI charges often comes at considerable costs and serious repercussions.
People with low conscientiousness levels are likelier to be involved in drunk driving accidents.
This personality trait includes impulsivity, lack of planning, and weak Rule-Following, thereby increasing the risk of intoxication due to an individual’s carelessness or disregard for safety.
Those with lower Conscientiousness are less likely to plan and make transportation arrangements, increasing the chances of impaired driving or being behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
Many awareness campaigns are aimed at potential drivers with low Conscientiousness, as they are among those most at risk for poor decisions when behind the wheel.
To minimize this high risk for DUI, individuals with lower conscientiousness levels need to take a proactive stance by planning how to get home safely if they consume alcohol.
Recent research has concluded that a person’s personality can impact their risk of committing a DUI offense.
People with certain personality disorders are more likely to drive while impaired than those without a personality disorder.
Studies have suggested that people with antisocial, borderline, and narcissistic personality disorders are particularly prone to DUI-related offenses due to the impulsivity and lack of empathy associated with these conditions.
Furthermore, some studies have linked the intensely negative feelings commonly associated with other personality disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, to higher rates of DUI occurrences, as intense moods often lead people to try to self-medicate through alcohol or drugs.
Despite this data linking personality disorders and DUIs, it must be noted that in no way does having a personality disorder give any level of justification for illegal behavior.
Anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) is a severe mental health issue that can have far-reaching consequences, mainly if it goes untreated.
Research indicates those with ASPD are more likely to drive after drinking alcohol than those without the disorder, and statistics show they are disproportionately represented in DUI arrests and fatalities.
Unfortunately, ASPD is only diagnosed after an individual has demonstrated several signs of impaired judgment or irresponsibility, such as violent behaviors or criminal acts – meaning people living with the condition often don’t get help until after they have committed a serious crime.
Individuals seeking treatment or loved ones of someone displaying signs of ASPD must receive proper care from trained professionals to prevent tragic outcomes like DUIs.
Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health condition that can leave an individual profoundly vulnerable to the risk of DUI.
Individuals with the disorder have difficulty regulating their emotions and often experience turbulent mood swings, difficulty managing stress, impulsivity, and relationship challenges.
These difficulties can lead individuals to turn to alcohol or drugs to calm themselves or avoid uncomfortable situations.
It is, therefore, important for those living with Borderline Personality Disorder to have a plan in place for safe and responsible drinking practices if they choose to drink at all.
Furthermore, DUI laws should be respected and understood by those suffering from mental health conditions so that they can look out for their well-being and take steps to prevent the tragedy of having a DUI on their record.
Dane is a DUI education expert, and is Cornerstone DUI's operations manager.
Karen is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years experience. She not only specializes in DUI prevention, but addiction and recovery.
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