Impaired Driving

Driving while impaired is the number one cause of car crashes. Impairment is caused by alcohol and illicit drugs, as well as common prescription and over-the-counter medications. It alters a person's ability to perform normal functions and impacts judgment, depth perception, coordination and reaction time.

Alcohol is a factor in almost four of every ten work-related traffic crashes. What employees do after hours affects a company's bottom line too.

• Drivers between the ages of 21 and 44 - those of adult working age- are more likely than any other age group to be in fatal crashes where the BAC was .08 or higher
• Drugs account for 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths
• One in six American adults binge drinks.* Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to drive drunk than non-binge drinkers

Implications of Alcohol

Consider this scenario of the implications of alcohol on a company with 100 employees.  Let's say, among employees and dependents, 20 people have drinking problems leading to two extra work days lost each month due to sickness, injury, and absence related to problem drinking.  The lost work days cost the employer an average of $3,466 per year in wages and an additional $60,573 in alcohol-related health care costs. Recognizing problems and providing all employees with resources to get help can significantly reduce costs associated with alcohol and drug issues.

Employee Resources

Employers can protect their businesses and employees by providing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a drug-free workplace program, supporting annual impaired driving campaigns and encouraging employees to talk to health care providers or pharmacists about the side effects of medications they are taking. Investing in your employees with improve their work performance, productivity and ultimately your bottom line.

Develop your own Drug-Free Workplace policy with the Department of Labor Policy Advisor.

Review the National Business Group on Health Guide to Preventative Services: Alcohol Misuse.