Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that states reduce the allowable blood-alcohol concentration for drivers by more than a third, from .08% to .05%. However, there are two sides to this issue.
Some argue that the blood-alcohol level should not be lowered because it would lead to innocent drivers being charged with drunk driving. Some charged will show no evidence of actual impairment. For example, a 130 pound woman would be able to consume 2 drinks (but not 3) over 90 minutes and still be under .05%. Those against lowering the standard also point to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating that the average blood-alcohol concentration of drivers involved in fatalities was substantially higher – .19%. Further, government data also show that over 90% of drivers in accident fatalities had levels of .10 or higher.
Proponents of lowering the blood-alcohol concentration also point to statistics. Studies show that individuals with blood-alcohol levels of .05% are 38% more likely to be involved in a crash than those who have not consumed alcohol. In other words, lowering the level, they argue, will reduce traffic fatalities. Further, proponents of the .05% limit point out that the United States is behind Europe in this regard. The vast majority of European Union countries have lowered their blood limit to .05% or lower.
Lowering the blood alcohol level will have an impact on Michigan license restoration. Lowering the level will surely lead to more convictions, loss of driving privileges and more individuals will need to pursue Michigan driver's license reinstatement.
