Pony
03-18-2016, 05:44 AM
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on states to take action and lower the legal blood alcohol level for drivers.
The new recommendation is asking states to lower the legal limit from 0.08 to 0.05.
2 NEWS Reporter Jordan talked with both doctors and legal experts about what these changes could mean for drivers and both say it’s a change that will have huge impact on people and how much they choose to drink on an average night.
DUI attorney Mike Mills says ultimately the NTSB’s recommendations could make a big difference in people’s everyday decision-making.
“Currently the limit of 0.08 means people can have roughly one to two drinks per every hour and still maintain safety,” Mills said. “A limit of 0.05 will basically limit people to one drink. And then depending on your body type and things like that it’ll greatly impact whether or not you’ll be able to get behind a wheel.”
The NTSB’s recommendations aren’t anything new. It’s something they’ve proposed before, but hasn’t got much traction with any state governments.
In a statement, the NTSB said, “safety is a journey, not a destination, reducing BAC limit to .05 is one of many steps to end substance impairment in transportation.”
Doctor and medical expert Pete Michaelson says there are significant changes in somebody’s state mind at 0.05 and 0.08.
“You still see effects at 0.05,” Michaelson said. “You can see effects from alcohol at 0.01 or even an ounce of a drink. We do know and the literature supports that even at 0.03 you can see changes in general concentration and some reaction control.”
The NTSB says drunk driving crashes decrease in Australia when the b-a-c limit lowered to .05… and estimates the change could save nearly one thousand lives each year. As Mills explains the new recommendations are just the start of a growing trend of states cracking down on drunk driving…which could lead to harsher punishments for first time offenders.
“The states are definitely cracking down,” Mills said. “The limit used to be 0.1. It’s since been lowered to 0.08. And now various states are adopting a zero tolerance policy. Even for first-time offenders they are recommending putting ignition interlock devices on your car that you would have to blow into to start for example.”
If states do follow through with the recommendation, experts say they could see push back from bars and restaurants who claim lowering the BAC could mean a major cut to their business.
The new recommendation is asking states to lower the legal limit from 0.08 to 0.05.
2 NEWS Reporter Jordan talked with both doctors and legal experts about what these changes could mean for drivers and both say it’s a change that will have huge impact on people and how much they choose to drink on an average night.
DUI attorney Mike Mills says ultimately the NTSB’s recommendations could make a big difference in people’s everyday decision-making.
“Currently the limit of 0.08 means people can have roughly one to two drinks per every hour and still maintain safety,” Mills said. “A limit of 0.05 will basically limit people to one drink. And then depending on your body type and things like that it’ll greatly impact whether or not you’ll be able to get behind a wheel.”
The NTSB’s recommendations aren’t anything new. It’s something they’ve proposed before, but hasn’t got much traction with any state governments.
In a statement, the NTSB said, “safety is a journey, not a destination, reducing BAC limit to .05 is one of many steps to end substance impairment in transportation.”
Doctor and medical expert Pete Michaelson says there are significant changes in somebody’s state mind at 0.05 and 0.08.
“You still see effects at 0.05,” Michaelson said. “You can see effects from alcohol at 0.01 or even an ounce of a drink. We do know and the literature supports that even at 0.03 you can see changes in general concentration and some reaction control.”
The NTSB says drunk driving crashes decrease in Australia when the b-a-c limit lowered to .05… and estimates the change could save nearly one thousand lives each year. As Mills explains the new recommendations are just the start of a growing trend of states cracking down on drunk driving…which could lead to harsher punishments for first time offenders.
“The states are definitely cracking down,” Mills said. “The limit used to be 0.1. It’s since been lowered to 0.08. And now various states are adopting a zero tolerance policy. Even for first-time offenders they are recommending putting ignition interlock devices on your car that you would have to blow into to start for example.”
If states do follow through with the recommendation, experts say they could see push back from bars and restaurants who claim lowering the BAC could mean a major cut to their business.