Lower BAC Level

Alcoholism

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Alcoholism

Lower BAC Level

Dateline: 04/01/98

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has once again taken the lead in trying to get legislation passed to crack down on drunk driving.

Drunk Driving

The Dangers
The likelihood of a driver having an accident is increased with each drink he takes.

The Penalties
In case you haven't noticed, the penalties for drinking and driving have been getting tougher.

The Effects
Links to internet resources about the risks of drinking and driving and society's reaction.

As the U.S. House of Representives began considering an amendment that would put pressure on States to pass a .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drunk driving arrest, MADD began a campaign to urge passage of the legislation.

MADD and other groups strongly believe that the lower BAC level, if adopted nationwide, would save many lives. In a news release this week, MADD National President Karolyn Nunnallee outlined reasons the group wants the law passed and gave a report on progress in getting the .08 level the law of the land:

Nunnallee said "a nationwide .08 law that will save nearly 600 lives every year just makes sense. The alcohol industry is pulling out all the stops to block this lifesaving legislation, including an ongoing misinformation campaign and behind closed-door negotiations."

During the past two years, .08 legislation has been killed in more than two dozen states as lawmakers buckled under from alcohol and hospitality industry lobbyists who disseminated misinformation about .08 laws. MADD says industry representatives are working to defeat the federal .08 amendment by spreading the myth that .08 would criminalize social drinking and reduce alcohol sales, and by hiding behind the states' rights argument. .08 supporters say these points are far from the truth.

"We ask, who will set the drunk driving policy in this country: elected officials relying on input from traffic safety experts and public activists who are dedicated to saving lives or the alcohol and hospitality industries who are obviously more interested in selling their product than protecting our families?," she added.

Dangerous Impairment

According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the average 170-pound male would have to consume at least four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach before reaching .08. A 137-pound woman would have to consume at least three drinks in an hour under the same conditions.

Today, 34 states and the District of Columbia still define intoxicated driving as .10 BAC.

"The fact is, .08 is a lot of alcohol and, what is more important, it is a lot of dangerous impairment," explained Millie Webb, whose daughter and nephew were killed by a .08 drunk driver. Webb, who is the volunteer public policy liaison for MADD Tennessee, and her husband were severely burned in the crash. Her daughter Kara was born prematurely and legally blind as a result of the crash.

"At a .08 BAC level, everyone's critical safe driving skills are dangerously impaired -- this is hardly casual social drinking." The .08 supporters combat the argument that the legislation would hurt alcohol sales citing studies by NHTSA, the Distilled Spirits Council and the Beer Institute which have not been able to document reductions in per capita consumption of alcohol in states that enacted .08 laws.

Today, 34 states and the District of Columbia still define intoxicated driving as .10 BAC -- the most lenient definition of drunk driving in the industrialized world. Currently, only 15 states have enacted .08 BAC laws. Washington State will become the 16th state when Governor Locke is expected to sign .08 legislation today.

"The danger imposed by drunk drivers does not end at state lines and neither should the standards that define drunk driving," added Nunnallee. "The states' rights argument touted by opponents of .08 legislation is a smoke screen that hides what is really going on behind the scenes -- alcohol and hospitality interests peddling big money to prevent lifesaving public policy."

Nunnallee said. "The House should listen to the voices of America and follow the lead of a strong bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate and the support of President Clinton and make .08 the law of the land."