What is the effect of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs significantly impairs a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. The correct answer highlights the critical aspects of impairment: judgment, coordination, and reaction time.

When alcohol or drugs enter the system, they affect cognitive functions and physical abilities. Impaired judgment can lead to poor decision-making, such as misjudging safe driving distances or taking unnecessary risks. Coordination, which is essential for controlling the vehicle accurately, can suffer because substance use affects motor skills. Furthermore, reaction time can be delayed, meaning that a driver may not respond quickly enough to hazards or changes in traffic conditions, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents.

The other options do not reflect the reality of how substances impact driving abilities. Improved reaction time and coordination is the opposite of what typically occurs, while claiming that there is no effect on driving skills ignores the well-documented dangers of driving while impaired. Enhanced awareness of surroundings also runs counter to the observed effects, as substances tend to dull senses and hinder a driver's ability to remain aware of their environment.