After determining that it's not safe to get behind the wheel after taking even a single drink of alcohol, researchers at the University of California, San Diego want the nation’s states to lower their legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limits.
In all states, a blood alcohol content level at or above 0.08 percent is the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Researchers at the university found that even lower levels may put drivers and their passengers at risk, however.
A little goes a long way
Led by sociologist David Phillips, researchers at the university analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which includes information on all people in the U.S. who were involved in fatal car accidents. They looked at nearly 1.5 million people involved in fatal accidents from 1994 to 2008.
Drivers who believe they can drive with an alcohol “buzz” without putting themselves at risk are very much mistaken, says Phillips.
"We found that injuries from automobile accidents were more severe when drivers had any blood alcohol content, even as low as 0.01," Phillips says. "The rate of serious injuries among buzzed drivers was clearly higher than for sober drivers."
Phillips says the problem could stem from buzzed drivers being more likely to speed and less likely to wear seat belts. They also are more likely to crash into other cars, causing serious injuries. "When you have any alcohol in your system, not only do you drive poorly, but also your ability to make sound judgments worsens," he says.
Alcohol impairment can lead to crashes, lawsuits, jail time – and higher car insurance rates.
Researchers want states to reduce BAC limits
Phillips believes the evidence from the study is strong enough for every state to consider lowering its legal BAC. Until recently, some states had set their BACs at 0.10. As of this year, the legal limit was 0.08 in all 50 states, though some states such as Colorado can impose penalties with a BAC of .05 percent.
Phillips wants the U.S. to join countries such as Czech Republic, Brazil and Hungary, where it is illegal to drive with any alcohol in your system. If that's not realistic, he says the states could lower their blood-alcohol limits to 0.02 or 0.03 percent. Some other countries have adopted BACs of 0.02 percent, while others allow up to 0.05 percent.
"We hope our study, which provides empirical evidence for lowering the legal BAC even more, might influence U.S. legislators," Phillips says.
Concerns from MADD
Jan Withers, recently named president of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), says she is not surprised by the study’s results. "We've always known that your judgment goes out the window the more you have to drink, and that when you get behind the wheel of a car drunk or buzzed you're putting not only yourself but others on the road at risk."
MADD wants people to choose a designated driver who will stay sober while the rest their party drinks. "That's our message over and over again, because it's so important," she says.
Despite the findings of the University of California, San Diego, Withers, whose daughter Alisa Joy was killed in 1992 by a drunk driver, doesn't believe states should lower their legal BACs any further.
"With every drink our sobriety levels go down," she says, "but at MADD we support the 0.08 blood alcohol content because that's the level the science and research shows is effective. MADD doesn't have an interest in pursuing anything lower than that."
Determining your BAC
Your blood alcohol level reflects how much alcohol is present in your blood as you drink. How much you can drink and still have a blood alcohol level below 0.08 depends on your gender, weight, the strength of your drinks and how much you eat while drinking. A 120-pound woman typically would exceed the legal limit by consuming two drinks within one hour. A 180-pound man would hit the limit by consuming four drinks during the same period.
Source: Beth Orenstein, written for www.insure.com
In all states, a blood alcohol content level at or above 0.08 percent is the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Researchers at the university found that even lower levels may put drivers and their passengers at risk, however.
A little goes a long way
Led by sociologist David Phillips, researchers at the university analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which includes information on all people in the U.S. who were involved in fatal car accidents. They looked at nearly 1.5 million people involved in fatal accidents from 1994 to 2008.
Drivers who believe they can drive with an alcohol “buzz” without putting themselves at risk are very much mistaken, says Phillips.
"We found that injuries from automobile accidents were more severe when drivers had any blood alcohol content, even as low as 0.01," Phillips says. "The rate of serious injuries among buzzed drivers was clearly higher than for sober drivers."
Phillips says the problem could stem from buzzed drivers being more likely to speed and less likely to wear seat belts. They also are more likely to crash into other cars, causing serious injuries. "When you have any alcohol in your system, not only do you drive poorly, but also your ability to make sound judgments worsens," he says.
Alcohol impairment can lead to crashes, lawsuits, jail time – and higher car insurance rates.
Researchers want states to reduce BAC limits
Phillips believes the evidence from the study is strong enough for every state to consider lowering its legal BAC. Until recently, some states had set their BACs at 0.10. As of this year, the legal limit was 0.08 in all 50 states, though some states such as Colorado can impose penalties with a BAC of .05 percent.
Phillips wants the U.S. to join countries such as Czech Republic, Brazil and Hungary, where it is illegal to drive with any alcohol in your system. If that's not realistic, he says the states could lower their blood-alcohol limits to 0.02 or 0.03 percent. Some other countries have adopted BACs of 0.02 percent, while others allow up to 0.05 percent.
"We hope our study, which provides empirical evidence for lowering the legal BAC even more, might influence U.S. legislators," Phillips says.
Concerns from MADD
Jan Withers, recently named president of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), says she is not surprised by the study’s results. "We've always known that your judgment goes out the window the more you have to drink, and that when you get behind the wheel of a car drunk or buzzed you're putting not only yourself but others on the road at risk."
MADD wants people to choose a designated driver who will stay sober while the rest their party drinks. "That's our message over and over again, because it's so important," she says.
Despite the findings of the University of California, San Diego, Withers, whose daughter Alisa Joy was killed in 1992 by a drunk driver, doesn't believe states should lower their legal BACs any further.
"With every drink our sobriety levels go down," she says, "but at MADD we support the 0.08 blood alcohol content because that's the level the science and research shows is effective. MADD doesn't have an interest in pursuing anything lower than that."
Determining your BAC
Your blood alcohol level reflects how much alcohol is present in your blood as you drink. How much you can drink and still have a blood alcohol level below 0.08 depends on your gender, weight, the strength of your drinks and how much you eat while drinking. A 120-pound woman typically would exceed the legal limit by consuming two drinks within one hour. A 180-pound man would hit the limit by consuming four drinks during the same period.
Source: Beth Orenstein, written for www.insure.com
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