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OCTOBER 5, 2000

On Tuesday, the House and Senate agreed to set a nationwide drunk-driving standard and will penalize states who do not comply with a lower blood alcohol limit.

The move was immediately hailed by President Bill Clinton. He said lowering the limit will save an estimated 500 lives and prevent injuries.

"Congress took a courageous step today to save lives by keeping drunk drivers off the roads," said Clinton on Tuesday.

The transportation bill approved by Congress this week creates a nationwide blood alcohol content (BAC) standard of 0.08 percent. States would be required to comply with the standard by 2004 or lose 2 percent of their highway money.

If a state doesn't comply by 2007, the penalty would increase to 8 percent. But if the state changes its limit by 2007, it would be reimbursed for lost money.

Currently, 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, have 0.08 percent BAC laws, while the remaining 31 have a 0.10 percent standard. Kentucky just lowered its limit from 0.10 percent to the new standard on Sunday as part of its own law combating drunk driving.

In Massachusetts, a BAC of 0.08 is considered evidence of drunkenness but not proof.

But some say lowering the limit will not have much of an effect on the problem. According to a 1991 Canadian research study cited by the alcohol and beverage industry, the average blood alcohol content in drunk driving fatalities is 0.17.

Additionally, they say that almost half of drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents have a BAC of 0.20 or higher, twice the legal limit in most states.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 170-pound man can consume four drinks on an empty stomach and reach the 0.08 limit. A 137-pound woman can consume three and reach the limit.

On Wednesday, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) commended the new limit. This week, the organization held a national teen summit in Washington, DC, and participants lobbied for the 0.08 law.

Relevant Links:
Test your Blood Alcohol Content - www.projo.com/special/rways/bac.htm
Mothers Against Drunk Driving - www.madd.org
Driving Under the Influence - library.thinkquest.org/23713/frameset.html
Drinking and Driving, the 0.08% Debate - www.bacdebate.com