Federal authorities are mulling recommendations that states drop the threshold that determines drunken driving from .08 to .05.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s staff suggested the new blood alcohol content level at a Tuesday meeting, CBS reported.
“Our goal is to get to zero deaths because each alcohol-impaired death is preventable,” NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said, in the CBS report. “Alcohol-impaired deaths are not accidents. They are crimes. They can and should be prevented. The tools exist. What is needed is the will.”
The new standards, if approved, would practically wipe out an adult’s ability to have even one drink absent worry of violating law.
A woman weighing less than 120 pounds can hit a .05 blood alcohol level after just one drink, CBS reported. A man up to 160 pounds in weight can only have two drinks before hitting that level, CBS said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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