It's been a decade since the NTSB has recommended that all states, DC, and Puerto Rico establish a per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .05 g/dL or lower for all drivers.
Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs remains a leading cause of highway crashes. In 2019, one in four traffic fatalities resulted from crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. And many of these impaired-driving crashes involve drivers who both drink and use other drugs (legal, illicit, and over the counter). Complicating matters, each year, more states are passing laws allowing the use of recreational marijuana and marijuana for medicinal use.
Impaired driving is 100% preventable. We know a per se BAC of .08 g/dL is too high. States need to lower per se BACs to .05%, an action only Utah has taken. Too many alcohol-impaired crashes have occurred involving drivers who had previously been convicted of drunk driving. All states need to implement laws requiring all drivers convicted of alcohol-impaired driving to use an interlock device, preventing future impaired driving.
Download NTSB's .05 BAC Safety Briefing Facts
Open Recommendations that Represent Critical Safety Priorities
H-13-1- NHSTA: Seek legislative authority to award incentive grants for states to establish a per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05 or lower for all drivers who are not already required to adhere to lower BAC limits.
H-13-5 to the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia: Establish a per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05 or lower for all drivers who are not already required to adhere to lower BAC limits.
Updated Oct 3, 2024
