U.S. safety board proposes tougher drunk-driving threshold

[Gameface]

BEWARE! NECRO BUMP AND OFF TOPIC ONE AT THAT! SEE PAGE 3 FOR MORE INFORMATION>>>

https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/us/ntsb-blood-alcohol/index.html

Washington (CNN) -- A decade-old benchmark for determining when a driver is legally drunk -- the 0.08 blood-alcohol content rate -- should be lowered in an effort to reduce alcohol-related car crashes that claim about 10,000 lives each year, U.S. safety officials said on Tuesday.The National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all 50 states lower the threshold to 0.05. The idea is part of a safety board initiative to eliminate drunk driving, which accounts for about a third of all road deaths.
"This is critical because impaired driving remains one of the biggest killers in the United States," NTSB Chairman Debbie Hersman said ahead of a vote by the panel on a staff report.
Hersman said progress has been made over the years to reduce drunk driving, including government policies, tougher law enforcement and stepped up advocacy. But she said too many people are still dying on America's roads in alcohol-related crashes.
Lowering the rate to 0.05 would save about 500 to 800 lives every year, the safety board said.

BAC level reduced to 0.05. To me it seems 0.08 is low and 0.1 is about right. I know everyone is different, but I highly highly doubt most accidents that are directly related to alcohol consumption involve drivers whose BAC is as low as 0.05. I just don't think there's enough impairment to affect their driving more than if they were talking to their father-in-law in the back seat. It is essentially a zero tolerance, not a drop type effort. I think one strong drink can put most people over 0.05 for at least a short amount of time. Almost anyone who went out to eat and had two beers with dinner would be over the limit, or close enough to it that responsible people wouldn't take the chance. So alcohol sales could be hugely affected.


Is a 0.05% BAC driving limit too low?

 

[Stoked]

I'd assume that most accidents involving a drunk driver are where the drunk is well above the .08 limit. Going to .05 does not seem like it would resolve anything.

 

[Ron Mexico]

I did a drunk driving test for the Utah Highway patrol a couple of times and I was shocked how much more I could drink and still be under the legal limit. I had 6 shots in an hour period and still only blew a .05. They asked me if I thought I could drive and I said I would not at that point because I assumed I was over. Then they double that and got me too around 1.2 and I felt pretty hammered. I am okay with them lowering the level. I think people driving home buzzed and really tired causes a good chunk of accidents.

 

[franklin]

I could drive way better drunk than hungover.

 

[Gameface]

I did a drunk driving test for the Utah Highway patrol a couple of times and I was shocked how much more I could drink and still be under the legal limit. I had 6 shots in an hour period and still only blew a .05. They asked me if I thought I could drive and I said I would not at that point because I assumed I was over. Then they double that and got me too around 1.2 and I felt pretty hammered. I am okay with them lowering the level. I think people driving home buzzed and really tired causes a good chunk of accidents.

Six shots of what, Boone's Farm?

At 150lbs 2 beers would put you right at 0.05% according to this web calculator https://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/#LinkURL If you weigh more you can drink more. Honestly I thought it would be higher.

 

[One Brow]

I don' have a problem with the lower limit. Testing methods, though, I'm not so sure about.

 

[Gameface]

Hopefully we can get to the point where we all go through several of these checkpoints a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wneBHaxvIhU

 

[franklin]

Can't wait to tell google car "get me more beer".

 

[Stoked]

I don' have a problem with the lower limit. Testing methods, though, I'm not so sure about.

I guess it would matter at how much that .03% has.

What I wonder is what is the point? How many people in drunk accidents measure above .05 and below .08? Is it really a problem or is it more of government trying to fix something that isn't broken?

 

[One Brow]

I guess it would matter at how much that .03% has.

What I wonder is what is the point? How many people in drunk accidents measure above .05 and below .08? Is it really a problem or is it more of government trying to fix something that isn't broken?

Assuming the methodology behind the claim of 500 to 800 lives a year is accurate, I think that answered your question.

 

[bigb]

Hopefully we can get to the point where we all go through several of these checkpoints a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wneBHaxvIhU

The thing about this video is that if he had nothing to hide, if he would have cooperated with the police, nothing would have happened. Arguing with the police only puts on them on alert.

 

[Gameface]

The thing about this video is that if he had nothing to hide, if he would have cooperated with the police, nothing would have happened. Arguing with the police only puts on them on alert.

I have a problem with roadblocks that require you prove your innocence to proceed. I've watched dozens of youtube videos of the police getting very violent with people simply doing the minimum required as far as their interaction with police. People just peacefully asking what the issue is, if they're actually required to do what the police are asking them to do(often they're not), or not complying with non-obligatory police requests are being beaten and tasered on a daily basis in the U.S.. I'm not in favor of this police state type of law enforcement.

This guy in the video had been assaulted by police at a checkpoint before. He simply didn't want to interact with the officers because he didn't trust that they wouldn't physically assault him. In the end they went ahead and physically assaulted him even after assuring him they wouldn't.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Six shots of what, Boone's Farm?

At 150lbs 2 beers would put you right at 0.05% according to this web calculator https://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/#LinkURL If you weigh more you can drink more. Honestly I thought it would be higher.

They were shots of high west whiskey mixed with coke. I weigh 160 pounds. In the group all the guys took the same number of shots that were carefully measured out and I had the highest blood alcohol levels in the group(but the only one who passed the roadside tests!).

 

[Stifle Tower]

How about strict enforcement of the existing laws? When you read about fatal DUI accidents, so many times the person involved has been arrested multiple times for DUI, but has gotten off with warnings, fines, etc. First DUI, consider it a "stupid mistake" and a wakeup call. Unless an accident is involved, the driver is fined - BIG TIME. Second offense the driver has obviously NOT learned his lesson: mandatory suspension of license and completion of an AA or similar program: Third offense: License is revoked...PERMANENTLY. Get a bus pass; you're NOT going to have a chance to kill my wife, children, neighbors.

I have no problem with you drinking, but there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for DUI. Designated driver, taxi service, etc. And I feel the same way about texting while driving. A car can be a weapon. So be responsible or have it taken away.

 

[UGLI baby]

How about strict enforcement of the existing laws? When you read about fatal DUI accidents, so many times the person involved has been arrested multiple times for DUI, but has gotten off with warnings, fines, etc. First DUI, consider it a "stupid mistake" and a wakeup call. Unless an accident is involved, the driver is fined - BIG TIME. Second offense the driver has obviously NOT learned his lesson: mandatory suspension of license and completion of an AA or similar program: Third offense: License is revoked...PERMANENTLY. Get a bus pass; you're NOT going to have a chance to kill my wife, children, neighbors.

I have no problem with you drinking, but there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for DUI. Designated driver, taxi service, etc. And I feel the same way about texting while driving. A car can be a weapon. So be responsible or have it taken away.

Agreed.





posted from my htc one using tapaBONGO

 

[candrew]

They were shots of high west whiskey mixed with coke. I weigh 160 pounds. In the group all the guys took the same number of shots that were carefully measured out and I had the highest blood alcohol levels in the group(but the only one who passed the roadside tests!).

That's not a shot - that's a mixed drink in a really, really, really small glass.

At your weight, 6 actual shots of 100 proof liquor in one sitting should put you well over the legal limit.

 

[Nate505]

Heh, about time the drinkers share some persecution from ridiculous laws.

 

[Gameface]

How about strict enforcement of the existing laws? When you read about fatal DUI accidents, so many times the person involved has been arrested multiple times for DUI, but has gotten off with warnings, fines, etc. First DUI, consider it a "stupid mistake" and a wakeup call. Unless an accident is involved, the driver is fined - BIG TIME. Second offense the driver has obviously NOT learned his lesson: mandatory suspension of license and completion of an AA or similar program: Third offense: License is revoked...PERMANENTLY. Get a bus pass; you're NOT going to have a chance to kill my wife, children, neighbors.

I have no problem with you drinking, but there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for DUI. Designated driver, taxi service, etc. And I feel the same way about texting while driving. A car can be a weapon. So be responsible or have it taken away.

I think DUI laws are a lot like you want them to be, other than the first offense usually involves a fine greater than $700, mandatory trip to jail, insurance rates that increase several fold, community service and on first offense a 120 day suspension of driving privileges. By no means is that any sort of slap on the wrist.

Here's a link to Utah's current sentencing matrix https://www.sentencing.utah.gov/DUI/2011 DUI Sentencing Matrix.pdf point out any areas where you think they're being leainient.

 

[JimLes]

Second offense the driver has obviously NOT learned his lesson: mandatory suspension of license and completion of an AA or similar program: Third offense: License is revoked...PERMANENTLY. Get a bus pass; you're NOT going to have a chance to kill my wife, children, neighbors.

How do you enforce this? If you take away someone's license, they could conceivably drive for years after without getting caught. Or they could drive for a week and then kill someone in another DUI. I don't know how things are in the USandA, but I've been driving for more than a decade here in Canada, probably an average of 20-30 kms a day, and I've been asked to show my license two or three times. Last time was 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[Gameface]

How do you enforce this? If you take away someone's license, they could conceivably drive for years after without getting caught. Or they could drive for a week and then kill someone in another DUI. I don't know how things are in the USandA, but I've been driving for more than a decade here in Canada, probably an average of 20-30 kms a day, and I've been asked to show my license two or three times. Last time was 4 or 5 years ago.

See the video about DUI checkpoints. They're getting very common. It's a great way to generate revenue. You can catch people for DUI that aren't showing any signs of impairment nor driving in a way that would draw attention to them. In other parts of the country the Boarder Patrol sets up checkpoints hundreds of miles from any U.S. border and rakes in millions off drug busts. They're not protecting the boarder. They're running checkpoints and generating massive revenue. Meanwhile mothers and fathers who are non-violent live in prison and the U.S. people pay for it. We also now pay to care for their children. Later we'll pay for those children who grew up short a parent or two when they enter the legal system.

This is all good news for our privately run prison system that has zero incentive to rehabilitate anyone.