Final answer:
Driving under the influence of alcohol greatly increases the number of points on a driver's record because intoxicated driving impairs critical skills necessary for safe operation of a vehicle. Breathalyzers are commonly used to measure a person's BAC and confirm intoxication levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immediate effect of alcohol varies based on an individual's blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is influenced by factors such as age, sex, health conditions, and the amount of alcohol consumed. Legally, alcohol intoxication is defined as having a BAC of greater than 0.025-0.080%, with higher levels leading to more severe impairments like acute intoxication, unconsciousness, and potentially death. The consumption of alcohol can result in decreased reaction time, visual acuity, alertness, and behavioral control, which are critical for safe driving. Therefore, driving under the influence of alcohol or any controlled dangerous substance can significantly increase the number of points recorded in your driving history due to the heightened risk of causing road accidents.
It is estimated that around 50 percent of road accidents are associated with excess alcohol consumption, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving. Additionally, devices such as the Breathalyzer are used to measure ethanol concentration in a person's breath to assess intoxication levels. The oxidation of ethanol by the dichromate ion is the reaction utilized in Breathalyzers to determine BAC.