Lawrence University BACCHUS would like to thank Wisconsin’s lawmakers for lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration level. For as long as a BAC law has been in effect, people were allowed to drive if they had a blood alcohol concentration of .1. Meaning, a man of average size who had had five alcoholic beverages was still legal to drive.
Early last week, Wisconsin lowered the legal limit to .08. This same man can now only drive after three drinks.
In 2001, there were 304 drunk driving-related deaths in Wisconsin alone. When compared to someone with a BAC level of 0, someone with a BAC level of only .02 is 140 percent more likely to be in an accident.
When the BAC level is raised to .1, the same driver is 4800 percent more likely to become involved in a single-vehicle fatal accident.
We hope that this new and improved law will save lives, and make people think twice before getting behind the wheel.
Remember: The driver is safe when the roads are dry, but the roads are safe when the driver is dry.
Thanks again, Wisconsin!
For more information on the new drunk driving law, BACCUS refers you to www.dot.wisconsin.gov.