Which of the following driving skills are affected by the use of alcohol and/or drugs?
- Alertness and concentration.
- Reaction time and coordination.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: C. All of the above.
All of the above — alcohol and drugs affect alertness and concentration as well as reaction time and coordination.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says DUI law covers alcohol and any drug, and that the law treats prescription and over-the-counter medications the same as illegal drugs. It states these substances can affect your ability to drive safely and to react to what you see and hear. Being alert enough to decide the right action in traffic is also described as a requirement for driving. Since alcohol and drugs touch both your mental sharpness and your physical responses, every skill listed is affected, which is why the choice covering all of them is correct.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Alertness and concentration. — Alertness and concentration are affected, but this choice leaves out the physical skills that the handbook also ties to alcohol and drug use.
- B. Reaction time and coordination. — Reaction time and coordination are affected, but this choice leaves out the mental alertness the handbook says you need to judge traffic situations.
Remember it
Think of alcohol and drugs as hitting the driver in two places at once: the head that notices things and the hands and feet that respond.