Crime & Safety
Should DUI Alcohol Limit Be Lowered To 0.05 Percent?
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.
One drink could be the standard for drunken driving—at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way.
On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent.
About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year.
Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
However, officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink.
We asked Forest Hills, Regent Square, Swissvale and Edgewood residents on Facebook what they thought of the recommendation and the reaction was mixed.
Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"May 14, 2013, was the 25th anniversary of the horrific Carrollton bus crash that stole the lives of 27 people, mostly children, including my cousin, Julie Ann Earnest. Anything we can do to prevent impaired driving and punish those who make the choice to endanger others absolutely should be done," wrote Nikki Hopeman.
"I support this idea wholeheartedly! This should go hand in hand with having good and affordable cab service and night buses. I come from a country where the tolerance is zero," wrote Marika Mando Fedorkova.
"Seems to be taking things too far. PA already has very strict rules—jail time for a second offense," wrote Mike Rush.
"Idon't have any issues with lowering it, but if it is that will mean more arrests—funneling more people into the already overburdened, underfunded, and in most cases, inept substance abuse programs in PA," wrote Kelley Broderick Kelley.
"For women, this would be a significant change in the number of drinks we could have and still drive. For thin women, in particular," wrote Elizabeth Madison Felter.
And she's right.
According to the Post-Gazette, a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 would be attained by a would be attained by a 130-pound woman with two drinks consumed within one hour.
A 180-pound male would reach the 0.05 threshold with three drinks within an hour.
Tell us what you think in the comments below: Is the proposal to lower the blood-alcohol limit reasonable?
Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.