Three years ago, B.C. lowered its legal blood alcohol limit to .05. For those needing a refresher:
- Drivers are warned with a blood alcohol level between .05 and .08. This results in an immediate three-day driving ban and a $200 fine. Consequences become more severe if repeat offences occur in a five year period.
- Drivers who blow over .08 face a criminal conviction and an immediate 90-day driving ban. Vehicles are impounded for 30 days and the driver is issued a $500 fine.
So how many drinks does it take to reach a .05 blood alcohol limit?
There are four main factors to consider when determining a blood alcohol level, including gender, weight, amount of alcohol consumed, and duration of consumption. For the average person, this can be as little as a glass of wine over dinner, or a few beers at a party. Hardly worth the risk.
Over 100 lives have been saved since B.C. lowered its legal blood alcohol limit.
The National Transportation Safety Board says that reducing the legal limit from .08 to .05 could reduce drunk driving deaths in the U.S. by as many as 800 a year.
A clever presentation on driving under the influence:
Don’t drink and drive. Play it forward. Save a life.
