Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
What's the difference between a blood alcohol level of .08 and .05?
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
May 17, 2013
Listen • 3:31
What's the difference between a blood alcohol level of .08 and .05?
The NTSB recommends that states lower the threshold for drunk driving from 0.08% to 0.05%. How much of a difference does that reduction make?
Washington Metropolitan Police conduct a sobriety check point associated with a news conference on drunk driving, on August 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) held a news conference to discuss the national anti-drunk driving campaign and law enforcement crackdown.
Washington Metropolitan Police conduct a sobriety check point associated with a news conference on drunk driving, on August 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) held a news conference to discuss the national anti-drunk driving campaign and law enforcement crackdown.
(
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
)

The NTSB recommends that states lower the threshold for drunk driving from 0.08% to 0.05%. How much of a difference does that reduction make?

This week we talked about the debate the National Transportation Safety Board stirred up when they made recommendations about lowering the legal limit for drunk driving from .08 to .05.

The proposal is controversial, although that is the legal limit in many European countries. We asked KPCC Science Reporter Sanden Totten to explore what the different levels mean, and what it takes to reach them.