.05 Saves Lives

Inside Marcus Kowal's fight to change America's drunken driving laws Marcus Kowal, an ex-MMA fighter, wants to change American drunken driving laws after the tragic death of his 15-month-old son.

Liam's Law, named after Kowal's son, would lower BAC requirements to .05.
www.espn.com/mma/story/_/...

WSP chief calls for lower BAC limit in Washington Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste has called for lowering Washington’s blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05 BAC.

“I’m hired to save lives and to make sure troopers out there are helping to do that. And that is another tool, a law, that will help them do so,” Batiste said on TVW’s Inside Olympia.

Inside Olympia - State Patrol Chief John Batiste - TVW Inside Olympia, with host Austin Jenkins, sits down this week with State Patrol Chief John Batiste.

Washington State Patrol Chief explains his support for 0.05 BAC: “I’m hired to save lives.”

www.tvw.org/watch/?clien...

Did you know? Some of the largest states in Mexico have BAC limits of 0.04-0.05. These include Mexico City, Estado de Mexico, Chiapas, Jalisco, and Veracruz. Altogether, 59 million people in Mexico live in states and districts that have lower BAC limits than the national level of 0.08. #DriveSober

Strong road safety policies have helped keep Canada on track, study shows Canada’s strong road safety policies have helped the country cut fatalities while the U.S. has faltered, new research from IIHS and Canada’s Traffic Injury Research Foundation shows.

In 2013, The U.S. and Canada had nearly identical traffic fatality rates. By 2020, the U.S. rate was 76% higher than Canada's road death rate. All but one Canadian province (Quebec) have adopted laws against driving with a BAC between 0.05-0.079. Source: @iihs-hldi.bsky.social

Recommendation 4-1: State governments should enact per se laws for alcohol-impaired driving at 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The federal government should incentivize this change, and other stakeholders should assist in this process. The enactment of 0.05% per se laws should be accompanied by media campaigns and robust and visible enforcement efforts.

In 2018, The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommended that all states adopt per se Blood Alcohol limits of 0.05% accompanied by media campaigns and robust and visible enforcement efforts.

Several provinces tightened drunk driving laws during the last 15 years, and the share of Canadian crash deaths involving alcohol has fallen."

The US-Canadian Road Safety Gap Is Getting Wider Despite similar infrastructure and vehicle fleets, the US and Canada are going in very different directions when it comes to traffic safety. A new study breaks down the divergence.

“'Canada is quite a bit stricter than the US in enforcing the law,' he said. “'Outside of Quebec, we also have 0.05 blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers,' lower than every US state except Utah...

I can live with that as a business owner, and everyone on the road can live as well."
--former Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (Spokane)

"I don't think this bill passing will have a significant impact on our business. But, if it does... it will be because someone who is on the margin of being unsafe to drive is educated about the risk and decides to forgo that last beer or glass of wine...

Lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for driving is the right decision to make Washington's roads safer Usually in the Legislature, we know how we are going to vote. Usually it's an issue we have debated in previous years and have a...

"I understand the opponents to the bill [to lower the per se BAC limit to 0.05] who are afraid that this policy will hurt their business. Well, I am part-owner and CEO of a business (the Spokane Indians Baseball Club and Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club) that sells beer and wine at their events...

They’ve fueled a booming industry. Recent research shows that drinking less, or nothing at all, is a much healthier way to go. Alcohol has been linked to cancers, injuries and a host of other problems."

Nonalcoholic beer and mocktails can help people stay sober or drink less, but are not for everyone Nonalcoholic beverages are taking off. Consumers include people recovering from addiction, those trying to cut down on their drinking and the rising numbers of young adults forgoing alcohol altogether...

Millions of Americans are turning to non-alcoholic beer and mocktails "including [some people] recovering from addiction, people trying to cut down on their drinking and the rising number of young adults forgoing alcohol altogether...

Have a safe holiday weekend! If you're going to drink alcohol, please let someone else do the driving.

Public health researchers, experts, a coalition of safety advocates and the NTSB agree that driving at .05% BAC or higher is dangerous and state laws lowering BAC will reduce the horrific toll of deaths and injuries caused by drunk driving."
--Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

"If all states lowered the BAC limit while driving to .05%, the U.S. could experience an 11% or greater decline in fatal alcohol-involved crashes, saving 1,790 lives annually...

Renton family urges public to stop driving impaired after deadly crash A Renton family urged against driving impaired after losing a loved one in a crash.

“There’s just too many options in 2025," Armenta said. "You have Uber, you have Lyft, you have friends. Call somebody for a ride. It’s not worth it. My kids lost their grandpa. I lost my dad.”

"Based on how she felt, she wouldn’t have gotten in a car at 0.026%." ... which is less than half the current per se BAC limit in Washington and 48 other states.

In addition, The Stranger staff reported: "Every subject agreed that 0.08% BAC was higher than we would have hoped, and no one felt they should be behind a wheel in the twilight between 0.05% and 0.08%."

How Many Drinks Is Too Many? An Unscientific Study. We devised a semi-scientific experiment using 10 subjects, too much alcohol, and Mario Kart 64.

While it was VERY unscientific, all the participants realized how impaired they felt well before they reached 0.08 BAC...

"Our unscientific experiment backed up what all the research has shown: 0.05% BAC is, in fact, impaired." -- The Stranger, Seattle

What happens in countries that adopt 0.05 BAC? Cultural and generational change.

Friends really don't let friends drive drunk. They offer rides or help them find a safe way home if they've been drinking. With each new generation, this is the norm.

Road Craft - Per Se Limit - The Wise Drive Do you know what the legal limit is for impaired driving? What if I told you there isn't one? Don't believe me? Stick around - I'll explain.

Does a per se limit of 0.08% BAC mean that you are not impaired below 0.08?

No.

Alcohol and drugs Information from IIHS-HLDI on alcohol- and drug-impaired driving

If you are between the ages of 21-34, driving with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% increases your risk of involvement in a fatal crash by 3.3 times, compared to a driver with no alcohol in their system.

The risk is 5.4 times greater with a BAC of 0.07%.

YouTube video by Idaho Transportation Department Cheers to the designated driver (and all the unsung heroes who get you home safe)

An important message on the importance of designated drivers from our partners in Idaho:
#ShiftIdaho #DesignatedDriver

Mikroliikkumisen lainsäädännön voimaantulo aiheuttaa muutoksia liikennevalvontaan ja seuraamuksiin

ICYMI, Finland extended their DUI law to prohibit driving a motorized bicycle or light electric vehicle with a BAC >= 0.05 percent. It does not apply to bicycles with electric motor assist, meaning those with a 1 kw or smaller motor and a maximum speed of 15 mph (25 km/h).

In Our View: Washington must put traffic fatalities in reverse In its aim to reduce traffic-related deaths, Washington appears to be on the wrong track — particularly in Clark County.

"Stricter laws governing impaired driving, legislation requiring the use of seat belts, reductions in speed limits and improved vehicle safety all have been significant factors in improved safety." -- The Columbian Editorial Board (Clark Co., WA)

June in Washington is typically the 3rd worst month for impaired driving fatalities. And July has been the deadliest month in the last decade.

Celebrate summer safely by using a sober ride if you need one or offering one, if you are able.

It's that simple.

Commercial truck drivers in the U.S. have a BAC limit of 0.04% for driving. Nationally, only 3% of large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of 0.08% or higher.

By contrast 25% of passenger car drivers involved in a fatal crash were alcohol impaired during 2013-2022.

Washington traffic deaths down after record year • Washington State Standard Coming off a 33-year high, deaths on Washington’s roads dropped nearly 10% last year, according to state data released Wednesday.

Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the primary risk factors in Washington traffic deaths. Lowering the BAC to 0.05 for driving is ambitious, but necessary. And it works.

2024 was the third year since 1990 that more than 700 people died on WA roads. 2023 and 2022 were the other two.

Please drive sober for a safer start to summer!

If you are going to drink and travel this Memorial Day weekend, plan ahead: take transit, use a ride share or taxi, or arrange a sober driver.

Thanks to everyone who is willing to be a sober driver! You're a lifesaver!