Should Drunken Driving Laws Be Tougher In Connecticut?

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- States, including Connecticut, should reduce the blood-alcohol level that qualifies as drunken driving to 0.05 percent to reduce fatal crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday.

Norwalk police hope to prevent accidents with extra drunken-driving enforcement.
Photo Credit: *File*

by The Daily Voice

05/14/2013 1:30 p.m.

The risk of a crash at 0.05 percent is about half as much as at 0.08 percent, the limit in all states, according to a safety board report released Tuesday.

The American Beverage Institute, a trade group representing 8,000 restaurants, blasted the report for focusing on moderate drinkers rather than more dangerous drunken drivers, CNN reported on its website.

The average woman reaches 0.05 percent blood-alcohol content after one drink, according to the institute. But more than 70 percent of drunken-driving fatalities are caused by drivers with at least 0.15%, representing six or seven drinks, it said.

"This recommendation is ludicrous," said Sarah Longwell, the institute's managing director. "Further restricting the moderate consumption of alcohol by responsible adults prior to driving does nothing to stop hard-core drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel."

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