In the year 2000, there were about 16,653 people in the United States who were killed in car accident involving alcohol. This figure comprises about 40 percent of all people killed in traffic accidents during that year. This is mainly because drivers who were driving while intoxicated endangered not only their own lives but the lives of other people as well. Given this, a number of states have taken necessary steps to prevent the occurrence of injury and death caused by alcohol. One of these steps is to lower the limit of the allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) among drivers.
Given the alarming figures of car accidents involving alcohol, a number of states have lowered the allowable BAC among drivers from a BAC of 100 mg/dl or 0.1 percent to 80 mg/dl or 0.08 percent. This is because based on a number of studies; almost all drivers are impaired at a level of 80mg/dL. At this level, drivers experience some level of difficulty in critical driving skills such as steering, braking and changing lanes. Furthermore, the studies show that some impairment occurs at 50 mg/dl, when some people already show signs of being drunk.
The Federal Government has also mandated that all fifty states should enact laws that establish 80 mg/dl as the allowable BAC among private vehicles. As a means to encourage states to do so, the Federal Government is withholding 2 percent of federal highway construction funds of the states that refuse to do so. In addition, the Federal Government has set a very low BAC among drivers of commercial vehicles, -- 40 mg/dl, which studies have shown is enough to cause impairment.
In response to the alarming figures related to car accidents that involve alcohol, both state and the Federal Government have taken the necessary steps to prevent such accidents from happening. One of these steps is to lower the limit of the allowable blood alcohol concentration that can prevent car accidents.
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