NTSB reccomends lowering blood alchol level that constitutes drunk driving

States should reduce the blood-alcohol level that qualifies as drunken driving to 0.05% to reduce fatal crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday.

The risk of a crash at 0.05% is about half as much as at 0.08%, the limit in all states, according to a safety board report released Tuesday.

"This is critical because impaired driving remains one of the biggest killers in the United States," said Deborah Hersman, the NTSB chairman. "To make a bold difference will require bold action. But it can be done."
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/14/national-transportation-safety-board-drunken-driving/2158107/

 
They may as well start up prohibition again. Obviously I don't want drunks on the road, but this is ridiculous. It's going to get to the point where people will be scared to even have a drink with their dinner at a restaurant. A friend of mine got a DUI after 3 beers. He's skinny and tall but still blew a .08. He passed the physical sobriety test. Here we come, El Salvador and Bulgaria.

 
I am sorry, but maybe they should focus on Texting while driving first.

What is mor elikely to kill you... a guy who has had two beers or a teenage girl texting her friend becky about how nicky is being such a skank and hitting on tommy...

 
Minnesota_husker said:
I am sorry, but maybe they should focus on Texting while driving first.

What is mor elikely to kill you... a guy who has had two beers or a teenage girl texting her friend becky about how nicky is being such a skank and hitting on tommy...
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Well that's a problem, cuz...I like Johnny. Now I'm emotionally compromised, and...woopsies.

 
StPaulHusker said:
knapplc said:
According to Ulty's chart, I can drink a bottle of wine in 60 minutes and still be under the limit.

Which is kinda scary, since there's no way I'd drive if I drank that much. I can't imagine what I'd feel like if I drank that much.
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You probably wouldn't feel much of anything until the next morning.
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I've had a hangover twice in my life, once in college when I mixed beer, Jager and wine coolers (she was hot, so nobody give me grief).

Last one was about five months ago when I just drank way too much for really no good reason. Other than it tasted really good. :D

 
knapplc said:
StPaulHusker said:
knapplc said:
According to Ulty's chart, I can drink a bottle of wine in 60 minutes and still be under the limit.

Which is kinda scary, since there's no way I'd drive if I drank that much. I can't imagine what I'd feel like if I drank that much.
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You probably wouldn't feel much of anything until the next morning.
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I've had a hangover twice in my life, once in college when I mixed beer, Jager and wine coolers (she was hot, so nobody give me grief).

Last one was about five months ago when I just drank way too much for really no good reason. Other than it tasted really good. :D
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damn, knapp. i have had a hangover twice in one night.

 
sd said:
why stop at .05? why not just ban driving if you have consumed any alcohol? it seems like that is where we are headed.
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It would almost certainly reduce traffic fatalities. In fact . . . if we banned driving entirely we would probably further reduce traffic fatalities.

Personally, I think the .08 limit is about right. I completely support increasing penalties (or even mandatory minimums) for subsequent offense DUIs but I think that the basic BAC level is reasonable.

 
If this thread shows anything it's that we don't really know how much can be consumed before being above the limit. I would love to see more opportunities where you can blow into the machine to find your BAC. Can I have 2 beers with dinner and still be good to drive?

 
This thread is interesting.

Much of the discussion is around how much a poster can drink and still be legal.

Very littled of the discussion is about the rational (or lack there of) for the change, ie if having a BAC between .05 - .08 make a driver impaired.

Nobody has tossed out the required standard line for other legislation the infringes on a persons individual liberties: How would the proposed bill prevent [fill in the blank tragedy]?

My opinions:

If there is evidence of a major public safety risk when people drive with a BAC of .05 to .07999, then this might be good rule making.

Ignition Interlock devices, while not 100% perfect, should be used to help reduce repeat DUI occurences.

 
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