Community Corner

Should DUI Alcohol Limit Be Lowered To 0.05 Percent?

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.

*This story was written by David Mills.

One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way.

On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent.
What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable?

About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year.

Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink.

People killed or injured by drunken drivers in and around San Gabriel Valley-area cities in 2010 (cities with 25,000-plus population; with ranking based on incidents per 1,000 population):

Arcadia: 13 (ranked 82nd out of 103 in its population group)

Glendora: 20 (ranked 46th out of 103 in its population group)

Monrovia: 9 (ranked 59th out of 93 in its population group)

Pasadena: 47 (ranked 34th out of 53 in its population group)

South Pasadena: 19 (ranked eighth out of 93 in its population group)

Glendale: 48 (ranked 45th out of 53 in its population group)


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