Drunk driving has been a hot-button issue during recent years, with many states enacting additional regulations to prevent highway deaths. Now, new federal recommendations could change the face of drunk driving charges as we know them, as officials tout the benefits of lowering the legal driving limit from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. The recommendations include sweeping changes for drivers in all states, including Alabama.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that the 0.05 percent limit would restrict 160-pound drivers to two beers or a single martini before getting behind the wheel. The current standard allows for two cocktails or two beers, according to various BAC calculators. Official research shows impairment begins earlier than the 0.08 level, with drivers experiencing serious effects at the 0.05 percent mark. Authorities and officials claim they want to lower the standard to lower crash risk and thereby preventing roadway deaths.