[Reader Contribution] "Driving Drunk with a Hangover Is Also Drunk Driving"

Kim Gwang-jung, Traffic Safety Team 1 Lieutenant, Gwangju Seobu Police Station

During the critical period of the spread of COVID-19, despite the reduced operating hours of restaurants and entertainment bars, the number of drunk driving incidents has not decreased.

In particular, so-called "hangover driving," where drivers are caught driving under the influence the day after drinking, often stems more from long-standing habits than from intentional actions.

The reason for the increase in hangover driving can be attributed to the complacent belief that sleeping after drinking will sober one up.

Drivers have no way of knowing how much of a hangover remains, often underestimating it and getting behind the wheel on their morning commute, only to face serious consequences.

The bigger problem is that people only recognize driving immediately after drinking as drunk driving and overlook the dangers of hangover driving without feeling any particular concern.

What is even more serious is that some drivers, knowing they should not drive after heavy drinking the previous night, try to evade morning sobriety checkpoints by exploiting the assumption that such checks won't be conducted early in the morning.

Even if they manage to avoid drunk driving checkpoints, once a drunk driving accident occurs, it cannot be undone, and regret comes too late. We must remember that it causes unjust victims and leaves much more difficult aftereffects to bear.

The police intend to respond strictly with a zero-tolerance policy toward drunk driving.

A hangover means that the effects of the previous day's alcohol remain in the body after waking up, affecting physical activity.

Since the time required to eliminate alcohol absorbed in the body varies depending on individual constitution, if one has inevitably drunk until late, they should use public transportation for their commute the next day.

It is very important to shift the perception that hangover driving is also a clear form of drunk driving and that every driver can prevent it.

We also want to emphasize the need for early education from a young age to instill the understanding that drunk driving is a lifelong sin.