Utah set to drop blood alcohol limit to .05, making it the strictest in the country

Under the new law, which will go into effect Dec. 30, a person will also be charged with “automobile homicide” if they kill another person while operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .05 or higher -- considered a third-degree felony.

By lowering the BAC limit, Utah becomes the first and only state to take action on the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations to lower BAC limits to .05. In the report, NTSB stated that “more than 100 countries have already established per se BAC limits at or below 0.05.”
supporting its recommendations. One, for example, found that the risk of being involved in a fatal crash at BACs between .05 and .079 ranged from 3 to 17 times higher, depending on the age of the driver. Another, based out of Queensland, Australia, found that the risk of fatal crashes dropped 18 percent after the limits were lowered.

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,874 people who died in 2017 from crashes involving a vehicle where the driver had a BAC of .08 or higher. It was the lowest number of deaths since the NHTSA first started reporting alcohol data in 1982.
https://www.yahoo.com/gma/utah-set-...05-making-200004987--abc-news-topstories.html
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While I understand the need, the desire and the utility, I think this spells the end of being able to social drink at any level.

And, it can only mean bad things with THCish content in blood etc.

 

I worked with a guy, during the company transition, that was charged, and imprisoned, for automobile homicide. In Utah. At the over.08 level. .05 is not even a buzz. Glad I don't drink at all anymore.

 

I support 0.08%, it seems like the more reasonable limit. 0.05% is too low. I live somewhere it's 0.05

 

Maybe for older people who drive cars

But the youngest generation is turning away from the automobile In large numbers

As for the older people if they can afford to get drunk in a bar where drinks cost more they can get a little less drunk and pay for an uber ride instead

 

I don't agree with this. This is going to inevitably result in someone who was just very light casually drinking who accidentally killed someone, not related to the alcohol, getting held fully responsible for that death.

In fact maybe the person who got killed was even partly, or wholly, at fault, but the person who had just been drinking a little bit is going to unfairly suffer for it.

Utah has a very strict conservative culture that likes "holding people responsible".
Not that I agree with the other end of the spectrum, but this takes it too far.

One suspects that the Mormon culture that doesn't approve of alcohol may have something to do with this.

 

At the very least we should include testing for THC in every traffic fatality investigation

 

Can't argue with that and I'm pro weed.

I'm not for demonizing people that had a smoke 3 days ago but if you're were toking in the last few hours it has to be at least a considered as a factor even it later turns out not to be.

 

pROBLEM THERE. No adequate test yet to determine PRESENTLY HIGH. Only metabolites, which accumulate,, thus, medical patients, that get in an accident, will be liable for homicide.

 

I suspect many that would take issue with extremely strict limits for alcohol would not have a problem with extremely strict limits for THC.
So there is a bit of an inconsistency, or double standard, deserved or not.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_drug_testing

Wiki disagrees somewhat with you.

 

Metabolites CAN be in the blood for UP to three months. The test is not PRESENTLY OKd for police use.

Although I have heard they are getting a test ready.

 

there’s no such thing as ‘accidentally killing someone.’

 

Until you do it

 

driving a motor vehicle is a very serious responsibility. every ‘accident’ is 100% avoidable.

 

Until you do it

 

As biochemistry advances there will be all kinds of easily administered tests for all kinds of illegal substances, too.

As a one beer, or one glass of wine per day person, I could easily live in Utah. Out in the bush I drink Captain Morgan to sleep with a lot of muscle pain, but am not going to hurt anyone there.

 

ok you had your chance to actually participate in substantive debate. i see that’s not what you’re interested in.

 

Yeah, basic human behavior changes with you.
Doubtful.

 

Over 60% of fatal accidents involve sober drivers. Ban driving while sober.

 

That is the dumbest post I have ever heard. Tboned by red light runner is UNAVOIDABLE. If you are a medical marijuana patient, you are likely to be charged, for the OTHER guy running the red, and YOU killing him.

 

That is a BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD muscle relaxer. Change your med.

 

So how do you calculate drinks per pound to see where you are at?

 

I found a calc. Two glasses wine would put me over the limit. I wonder if that is so if it is wine with a meal...

 

if you are impaired by medical marijuana, you have no business driving.

 

Captain Morgans is great, I really enjoy it over ice or 50-50 with coke. I recommend trying Sailor Jerry's, similar spiced rum but a little more vanilla which I like, and higher proof. Slightly more expensive, worth it.

I envy you camping in the Utah bush. I was reading A Study in Scarlet the other day, a Sherlock Holmes novel - anyway a couple of chapters are set in 1847 Utah. Sounds like an interesting place.

I do the same in South West Australia. Get out in the bush, my choice of liquor is port. Nothing beats port around a fire to the sound of waves hitting the shoreline.