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DMV Permit · Alcohol and Impaired Driving

How does alcohol affect a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

It impairs judgment, reaction time, coordination, and vision, increasing crash risk — even below the legal limit

  1. A It impairs judgment, reaction time, coordination, and vision, increasing crash risk — even below the legal limit
  2. B It only affects driving at very high amounts
  3. C It has no effect on driving
  4. D It improves reaction time

Why this is the answer

Alcohol is a depressant that impairs the very abilities driving requires: judgment, reaction time, coordination, concentration, and vision. These effects begin even at low blood alcohol concentrations, before a driver reaches the legal limit, and they worsen as more alcohol is consumed. Impaired drivers misjudge speed and distance, react slowly, and take greater risks. The only safe choice is not to drive after drinking — use a designated driver, a rideshare, or wait. Many other substances, including certain medications and drugs, also impair driving. Understanding alcohol's effects underlies impaired-driving laws and is heavily tested.
Source: Standard driver handbook, Alcohol and Driving

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About this topic: Alcohol and Impaired Driving

0.08 percent is the per se limit for non-commercial drivers in nearly every state (0.05 in Utah). Impairment begins well below the limit, and texting is comparable to driving drunk for crash risk. This is one of 6 DMV Permit questions on alcohol and impaired driving, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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