Drunk driving has been a leading cause of road fatalities in the United States for decades, despite numerous campaigns designed to discourage it. Currently, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level is set at .08, meaning any driver found to exceed that limit is considered legally impaired and subject to arrest. While this limit has helped to reduce intoxicated driving fatalities, it is still too high. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why the legal BAC limit should be reduced from .08 to .05.

WHY .05?

1. Safety: Studies show that a reduction of the legal BAC level from .08 to .05 could decrease the number of fatal road accidents by as much as 11%. The lower the BAC level, the less impaired the driver is, and the more likely they are to make safe decisions on the road.

2. International standards: The United States is one of the few countries that still allows a BAC level of .08. Many countries, including most of Europe, Australia, and Japan, have lowered their BAC limit to .05 or even lower.

3. Public opinion: According to a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 55% of Americans support a reduction of the legal BAC level to .05. This shows that the public is aware of the dangers of drunk driving and is behind measures that make the roads safer for everyone.

4. Cost savings: Drunk driving accidents have a staggering economic cost, estimated at $44 billion annually. A reduction of the legal BAC level could not only save lives but also save money in reduced health care costs and property damage.

5. Technology: Technology has come a long way since the legal BAC limit was set at .08. Today, breathalyzers and other devices can accurately measure a driver's BAC level within seconds. This means that a lower BAC limit would be much easier to enforce than it was in the past.