Crime & Safety
Point-Oh-Five Could Be the New DUI
For some people, one drink could be the new standard for drunken driving if the NTSB has its way.
Written by Jennifer Squires
One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transportation 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.
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.
People killed or injured by drunken drivers in Sonoma cities in 2010 (cities with 25,000-plus population; with ranking based on incidents per 1,000 population):
- Petaluma, 17 (Ranked 70 out of 103 in its population group)
- Rohnert Park, 5 (Ranked 84 out of 93 in its population group)
- Windsor, 4 (Ranked 81 out of 93 in its population group)
- Sonoma County, 332 (Ranked 35 of 58 counties by average population)
What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable? Tell us in the comment section below.
