Driving under the influence of alcohol constitutes one of the main challenges for road safety globally, with a devastating impact in terms of human lives and socioeconomic consequences.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies alcohol consumption as a significant factor in approximately 3% of global diseases, but its impact on road safety is particularly concerning. It is estimated that between 20% and 50% of all deaths on streets and highways are alcohol-related. These figures not only reflect irreparable human losses but also extensive economic repercussions, from healthcare costs to loss of labor productivity.
In this context, Mexico has faced significant challenges, as evidenced by recent data on traffic accidents related to alcohol consumption. The General Law of Mobility and Road Safety reflects the country’s commitment to addressing this issue through the implementation of maximum allowable limits of alcohol in blood and breath for drivers.
Alcohol affects driving ability by reducing coordination, slowing reaction times, impairing judgment, and compromising vision. Even small amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream can have these effects, exponentially increasing the risk of crashes and hit-and-runs as alcohol concentration increases. The relationship between blood alcohol content (BAC) and crash risk is direct and alarming: even at a BAC of 0.02%, crash risk begins to increase.
Statistical Data for Mexico in 2022
In 2022, Mexico faced a considerable challenge in terms of road safety, especially related to drunk driving. The data collected throughout this period provides a clear perspective on the magnitude of the problem, both in urban and suburban areas and on federal highways, allowing us to better understand the critical areas that need priority attention.
Accidents in Urban and Suburban Zones
In Mexico’s urban and suburban areas, 377,231 traffic accidents were recorded in 2022. Of these incidents, 20,317 cases involved drivers with some level of alcohol in their blood. This means that approximately 5.4% of all traffic crashes in these areas were related to alcohol consumption. This percentage reflects the relevance of addressing alcohol consumption as one of the main causes of traffic crashes, highlighting the need to implement effective prevention strategies and raise awareness of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Accidents on Federal Highways
On the other hand, on federal highways, the incidence of alcohol-related traffic crashes appears to be lower compared to urban and suburban areas. Of the 14,067 crashes recorded, only 91 were recorded under the influence of alcohol, representing approximately 0.65% of the total. Although this percentage is significantly lower, each incident involving drunk driving on federal highways has the potential to result in much more serious consequences, given the high speeds at which crashes tend to occur on these roads.
Alcohol Limits Regulations
The General Law of Mobility and Road Safety establishes clear limits for driving under the influence of alcohol: driving with more than 0.25 mg/L in exhaled air or 0.05 g/dL in blood is prohibited, with more restrictive limits for motorcyclists (0.1 mg/L in exhaled air or 0.02 g/dL in blood) and a total prohibition for drivers of passenger and cargo transport vehicles. The competent authority carries out breathalyzer tests on an ongoing basis, using methods approved by the Federal Health Secretariat, to ensure compliance with these limits and improve road safety.
The problem of drunk driving in Mexico requires priority attention, as evidenced by both the statistics of alcohol-related traffic accidents and the implementation of strict regulations on BAC limits. The effectiveness of these measures depends on rigorous enforcement and public awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. Through a collective commitment on the part of authorities, organizations and citizens, Mexico is moving towards greater road safety, to significantly reduce fatal traffic crashes and alcohol-related injuries, thus protecting the lives and well-being of all its inhabitants.
How do I know if the amount of alcohol I have consumed exceeds the legal limit or if I am fit to drive?
A way to correlate the number of drinks consumed with the level of alcohol in the blood, commonly known as blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Widmark’s formula is one of the most commonly used ways to estimate BAC based on the amount of alcohol consumed, body weight, sex, and time since the onset of drinking.
Where:
- Alcohol consumed in grams can be calculated by knowing that a standard drink (such as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits) generally contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol.
- Body weight in grams should be converted from kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb) to grams (1 kg = 1000 grams, 1 lb = 453.592 grams).
- r is the alcohol distribution factor, which is approximately 0.68 for men and 0.55 for women, due to differences in body composition.
- Alcohol metabolism is generally estimated to be about 0.015 for most people, reflecting the average rate at which the body metabolizes alcohol, reducing BAC by approximately 0.015 per hour.
Calculation Example
Suppose a 70 kg male person consumes four standard drinks over two hours. We will calculate his approximate BAC:
- Alcohol consumed in grams: 4 drinks × 14 grams/drink = 56 grams.
- Body weight in grams: 70 kg × 1000 = 70000 grams
- r for men: 0.68
- Metabolic rate: 0.015 (per hour)
- Hours since first drink: 2 hours
Using Widmark’s formula:
Result 0.08% – unfit to drive.
As another example, the estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a 30-year-old, 55-kilogram woman who has consumed three beers in a two-hour period would be approximately 0.109%. This indicates a level of intoxication that could significantly affect her ability to drive safely, considering that many countries set the legal limit for driving near or below 0.08%.
Both cases are above the legal limit.
