How does alcohol first affect a person's driving abilities?

Alcohol primarily affects a person's judgment first and foremost. When someone consumes alcohol, it begins to impair the brain's ability to make sound decisions and assess risk accurately. This deterioration in judgment can lead a driver to underestimate dangerous situations, overestimate their own capabilities, and make reckless choices. For example, they may decide to speed, take unnecessary risks, or engage in behavior that they would typically avoid when sober.

While other abilities such as balance, vision, and reaction time are also affected as alcohol consumption increases, the impairment of judgment is often the most critical initial impact. Poor judgment can lead to situations where a driver may not recognize their impairment or may feel overly confident, making it the most immediate concern in terms of safe driving. As the impairment progresses, other abilities will be affected, but the failure to make sound judgments can have the most severe consequences on the road.