NTSB Recommends Stricter Rules for Drunk Driving
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), lowering the legal limit on drinking and driving could save hundreds of lives each year.
NTSB is pushing the proposal for approval by Congress and the states to lower the current limit of 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent or lower. A blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent means a small woman could have a single drink in an hour and be near the limit. A medium-sized man could have two drinks within an hour before hitting the level.
The recommendation isn’t expected to stick, considering it took nearly two decades to lower the limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. In fact, the Governors Highway Safety Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving aren’t even endorsing the proposal.
The biggest problem being that many believe a 0.05 blood alcohol level doesn’t necessarily mean you’re driving impaired. NTSB on the other hand states that a person with a 0.05 percent blood alcohol level has a 38 percent higher chance of getting into an accident than someone who hasn’t been drinking. NTSB also reinforced its stance by saying more than 100 countries have reduced their legal limit to 0.05 percent or lower. The agency estimates that lowering the level to 0.05 percent would save 500-800 lives annually.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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