WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) — The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says it is considering advising states to reduce their drunken driving limits by more than one-third.
The NTSB can’t legally force states to adopt stricter limits on drunken driving enforcement but the federal agency’s input has considerable effect on state legislators. The new threshold would be 0.05 percent blood alcohol content, down from the present standard in all 50 states, 0.08 percent.
Federal officials note the tougher standard is the norm in most of the developed world.
While an individual’s blood alcohol content varies depending on an individual’s size, stomach content and other variables, generally speaking a man weighing 180 pounds could consume four alcoholic beverages in a span of 90 minutes and not meet the 0.08 threshold. A woman weighing 130 pounds could consume three drinks in 90 minutes and still be legal to drive.
Under the new guidelines, both men and women would have to curtail consumption of one drink each (three total for men, two for women) in the same 90 minute span to stay below the 0.05 percent threshold.
The measure is likely to face still opposition from the hospitality, brewery and distillery industries, who could face a substantial loss of business if the blood alcohol content limit is lowered, The New York Times said Tuesday.
“Moving from .08 to .05 would criminalize perfectly responsible behavior,” said Sarah Longwell, the managing director at the American Beverage Institute. “Further restriction of moderate consumption of alcohol by responsible adults prior to driving does nothing to stop hard-core drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.”
States lowered their limits to 0.08 in 2000 after President Bill Clinton signed a law withholding federal transportation dollars from any state that didn’t lower its limit.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
23 thoughts on “Feds consider lowering drunk driving threshold”
This is all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, nothing more
Cops have a new device that test for pot in Colorado now. Plus you can still be fired from your job if you test positive for any drugs.
What does that have to do with you drunks still being able to drink and drive?
Anyone under the influence of any substance shouldn’t be allowed to operate a motor vehicle; which is deadly weapon.
Ask any drunk driver they will tell you they are ok to drive.
Stop making excuses for poor life style choices!
If you drink don’t drive!
Driving high is NOT driving drunk. Most people simple don’t understand this. I know hundreds of people who have driven high every day for over 20 years with no tickets or accidents.
We let people drove on oxy(heroin) if they have a prescription.
Booze is a very special case it makes people want to speed.
@LBS, you can cry and complain all you want but it won’t matter. No matter what you say it just doesn’t matter because pot is ILLEGAL and alcohol isn’t so cry me a river.
What does that have to do with alcohol making people drive bad?
absolutely nothing, you are crying about people being able to drink and not smoke pot.
“LBS Reply
May 15, 2013 at 2:49 am
What does that have to do with alcohol making people drive bad?”
Maybe you could tell us. . . .
“LBS Reply
May 14, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Do you mean to tell me there is ZERO tolerance for cannabis and NOT for alcohol?
This is proof society is a joke.”
“Driving high is NOT driving drunk. Most people simple don’t understand this.” Most people DO understand that driving while “high” is not the same thing as driving drunk. However they both are driving while impaired.
“I know hundreds of people who have driven high every day for over 20 years with no tickets or accidents.” Good, they are licky and haven’t been caught. It doesn’t however give any hard evidence to them not driving while impaired.
“We let people drove on oxy(heroin) if they have a prescription.” And if they are caught driving erratically they can be charged with driving while impaired (even though they have a prescription).
“Booze is a very special case it makes people want to speed.” Really! Got any thing close to a fact that supports this?
@LBS-I know people who have driven drunk on alcohol for over 20 years and never had a accident or a ticket. That doesn’t make it right, it just makes them lucky. One day their luck will run out and they will kill someone. The same goes for people on pot.
No you don’t, you’re lying.
that is as childish as “I know you are but what am I”? What else would you expect from a pot smoking liberal
If you someone who was drinking and driving everyday for 20 years you should be in prison LVS!
That’s Over 7000 times you knew someones was out on our roads drinking and anyone who drinks everyday is a drunk. You’re either lying or deserve to be in prison!
@LBS-are you STUPID or what???
Working under the influence is illegal in a lot of jobs, and random testing is mandatory under Federal law.
It should be made illegal along all lines of occupations for employees to report to work under the influence. This should be especially true for drugheads, who partake in illegal activity to begin with.
I want to know more about what bloggers think about the sobriety test given to suspected drunk drivers. If you give this test to many elderly capable drivers they may not be able to stand on one foot or tilt head back and point to nose without failing the test. So, does this mean the test is discriminating? Does it represent what a safe and capable driver should be able to do? How do we pick a safe breath alcohol level? How could you even standardize on one level for all? Even legitimate mediated drivers without restrictions could fail the sobriety test and then what? I’m not defending drunk driving/ers. Our system leaves the door open to let scum bag lawyers get ‘real’ guilty offenders off. Lowering this level to .05 will increase public legal fees. Our government is regulating us to death without giving thought to what they are doing. We deserve better.
The field sobriety test is not the same as a breathalyzer. In some areas, the field sobriety test is not even used anymore. The stand on one foot or point to nose test does not furnish any evidence to be used in court. The breathalyzer gives that evidence.
Do you mean to tell me there is ZERO tolerance for cannabis and NOT for alcohol?
This is proof society is a joke.
zero tolerance is because as of right now pot is illegal and alcohol isn’t. you must be a liberal.
I wouldn’t have any tolerance for those who drive (and get caught) while they are high or have been smoking dope.
The joke is on those who think that its OK to smoke dope and or drink and then drive. Idiots.
That’s great. In addition we should attach IQ test score limits and also test everyone, including the elderly with the goal of removing drunk drivers, low IQ drivers, and elderly or anyone else that cannot physically drive a vehicle in a safe manner.
@Anonymous-Great, Lets start with you. You are low I.Q.