Drunk Driving Meaning, Laws, and Safety Tips

Meaning 1：drunk driving (Drunk driving)

Drunk driving 🔊

/drʌŋk ˈdraɪvɪŋ/

The crime of driving a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol.

drunk driving 🔊

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/drʌŋk ˈdraɪvɪŋ/

The illegal act of operating a motor vehicle after consuming enough alcohol to impair one's ability to drive safely.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound: 'drunk' (intoxicated) + 'driving' (operating a vehicle).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a police officer giving a breathalyzer test to a driver who smells of alcohol — that's drunk driving.

📖 Example

My friend called a taxi for me because he knew drunk driving is not only illegal but also puts everyone on the road at risk. 🔊 My friend called a taxi for me because he knew drunk driving is not only illegal but also puts everyone on the road at risk.

🔗 Collocations

drunk driving accident – A crash caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol.

drunk driving charge – A legal accusation of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

drunk driving laws – Regulations that prohibit and penalize driving under the influence.

🔄 Synonyms

DUI (n.) – Driving Under the Influence – a legal term for operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

driving while intoxicated (n.) – Another term for drunk driving, often used in legal contexts.

drunken driving (n.) – A slightly older term meaning the same as drunk driving.

🚫 Antonyms

sober driving (n.) – Driving without any alcohol or drugs in the system.

designated driver (n.) – A person who abstains from alcohol to drive others home safely.

🌱 Derivatives

drunk driver (n.) – A person who drives while under the influence of alcohol.

drunk-driving (adj.) – Relating to the offense of drunk driving (e.g., drunk-driving laws).

📖 Cultural Story

The term emerged with the rise of automobiles in the early 20th century. High-profile campaigns like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in the 1980s led to stricter laws and zero-tolerance policies.