Everyone with a car should know the difference between DWI and DUI

Posted by albertareid on March 18th, 2012

Knowing the difference between DWI and DUI can help you avoid driving when you are really high. Drunken driving is considered one of the most serious offenses and the laws are really harsh. When you know about DWI v DUI you are sensitive to the dangers of driving when you are high on alcohol and this may just prevent you from driving after you have a had a drink too many in a party.

In some of the states of the USA, there is no difference between DWI and DUI. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under Influence (DUI) are considered one and the same. The laws related to both these offenses are the same. But there are other states where both DWI and DUI have different laws. In states where there is a difference between DWI and DUI, the Blood Alcohol Count (BAC) content is taken into consideration when the cop needs to decide between DWI and DUI. If the BAC count is less than or equal to 0.8%, you are slapped with DUI and if the count is more than 0.8% then you are slapped with DWI.

Now there are cases where you are not drunk enough not to drive. But imagine a situation where you have had a couple of drinks and now driving back home. You get into an accident situation due to the mistake of someone else. The cops will come and use breathalyzer on all the involved parties. Your breathalyzer test will reveal that you have had a drink or two. So you get into trouble for nothing. Whether you know the difference between DWI and DUI or not is not going to help you here. You will land in trouble. Hence, it makes a lot of sense to hire a cab when you have had a drink. Who wants to take a chance anyway?

Typically, when you compare DWI v DUI, you find that the penalties for the former are harsher. In DUI you will receive a ticker, have your car impounded and will be asked to appear in court. But a DWI offense could mean a jail term too. Hence, it makes a lot of sense to know about the difference between DWI and DUI so that you can decide whether it makes sense to drive when you have had alcohol.

DWI and DUI also consider cases where someone is high on narcotics. The bottom line is simple – if you are intoxicated, no matter due to what, you are not supposed to drive. If you drive and get caught then you’ve had it. Whether you are aware of DWI v DUI or know the difference between DWI and DUI will not help you.

Constant awareness by the government about the difference between DWI and DUI and DWI v DUI has helped to bring down drunk driving incidents. But many people still get injured and lose their lives due to people driving under the influence of alcohol. You should also spread the awareness and create safer roads for the people.

If you don’t know the difference between DWI and DUI you could land in trouble if you are caught drunk driving.DWI v DUI is not much different in some states but there is a difference in the other states.