Utah Becomes First State to Lower BAC to 0.05 Percent—Should Texas Follow?

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TEXAS. Starting one day before New Year’s Eve—December 30—Utah drivers will need to be extra careful about how much they drink. On December 30, Utah will lower its BAC to 0.05%, making it the first state to require drivers to have a BAC below this threshold. According to the journal, Addiction, the National Transportation Safety Board recommends that all states lower their BAC to 0.05. Researchers have found that drivers with a BAC of 0.05 show signs of impairment. Many experts believe that drunk driving accidents can be significantly reduced if all states observed the 0.05 limit.

The stricter limit will mean that the number of drinks a person can have in Utah before they are declared legally drunk will be much lower. According to NPR, a 180-pound man could reach 0.05 after just two drinks. When the BAC is 0.08, it could take double that, or four drinks to exceed the legal limit. For women, the limit is likely to be much lower because women generally require fewer drinks to reach these thresholds.

According to NPR, the National Transportation Safety Board has been recommending that states lower their legal limits to 0.05 since 2013.

The new law has faced its criticism, both from alcohol industry interest groups and from members of the community who believe it unfairly targets social drinkers. 70% of drunk driving fatalities occur when drunk drivers have a BAC more than 0.15%.

Yet, any amount of drinking can impact or impair a person’s driving. In the aftermath of a car accident, a driver might not be legally drunk, but if an officer records that the person has been drinking, this fact could play a role in civil court should a personal injury victim sue for damages. While Texas has not passed a law to lower its BAC threshold—just yet—if you plan to drink at all over New Year’s Eve, consider finding alternative options for transportation. Negligence—or fault after a car accident—can be based on many factors. Was the driver speeding? Did he or she run a red light? Or, was he or she drinking at all before the crash? Drinking and driving don’t mix. And often, those who are hurt, are innocent victims who were not drinking.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a drunk driving accident in Texas, consider reaching out to the Cooper Law Firm, a Texas car accident attorney. Our lawyers can review police reports, investigate the accident, and fight to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law. If you are not sure about whether another driver was drinking before your crash, our firm may be able to investigate this and determine whether alcohol may have been a factor. If alcohol is a known factor in your car accident, it can mean a higher settlement for you and your family. Visit our car accident attorneys at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037

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