What is the difference between "Impaired Driving" and "Drunk driving"?

Answer 1

Both can involve drugs, alcohol, or both.

The difference is the amount of impairment. Drunk driving is when your alcohol limit is over the legal limit, currently .08. You do not need dangerous driving to convict on drunk driving, just a legal reason to stop the car, and a test over the limit.

Impaired driving occurs when your alcohol level is below .08, but the officer can testify that your driving behavior was effected.

Not sure about other states, but in Michigan, impaired driving is occasionally used as a plea bargain to someone charged with drunk driving.

Answer 2

Drunk driving -- 3 beers +
Impaired Driving -- 1 to 3 beers

Answer 3

Drunk driving means drunk on alcohol.

Impaired driving means impaired so as to be unable to drive safely. This could mean on alcohol or drugs.

Drunk driving is impaired driving, but impaired driving isn't necessarily drunk driving.

Answer 4

Impaired driving could involve things like driving ill, in violation of a restriction, etc., where alcohol is not a factor. Drunk driving is self explanatory

Answer 5

political correctness, impaired driving is just a less offensive way to say drunk driving . We wouldn't want to offend any Drunks ,would we ?

Answer 6

Well, I suppose that drunk driving is when your driving is impaired due to alchohal consumption, whereas impaired driving, your driving is impaired due to any cause, eg; drugsor alchohal, sleep deprivation, driving and typing on your laptop at the same time, driving and dialing a # into your cell phone, etc......

Answer 7

"Drunk" implies a threshold BAC (Blood alcohol content) has been exceeded. Most states, its .08.
"Impaired" is under the influence, with no reference to the exact BAC. Usually up to the officer's discretion.

Answer 8

Ask Ted Kennedy, he knows the difference.

Better yet, ask his passenger, oh - I guess you can't ask her.