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Community Corner

Point-Oh-Five Could Be the New DUI

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit for drunken driving from 0.08 to 0.05. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.

Written by Jennifer Squires

One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way.

On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent.

About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year.

Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink.

People killed or injured by drunken drivers in Patch Peninsula cities in 2010 (cities with 25,000-plus population; with ranking based on incidents per 1,000 population):

  • Belmont, 10 (Ranked 51 out of 93 in its population group)
  • Burlingame, 6 (Ranked 65 out of 93 in its population group)
  • Foster City, 2 (Ranked 89 out of 93 in its population group)
  • Menlo Park, 16 ((Ranked 20 out of 93 in its population group)
  • Pacifica, 15 (Ranked 38 out of 93 in its population group)
  • Redwood City, 16 (Ranked 20 out of 93 in its population group)
  • San Bruno, 10 (Ranked 61 out of 93 in its population group)
  • San Carlos, 9 (Ranked 48 out of 93 in its population group)
  • San Mateo, 9 (Ranked 48 out of 93 in its population group)
  • South San Francisco, 9 (Ranked 48 out of 93 in its population group)
  • San Mateo County, 387 (Ranked 52 of 58 counties by average population)

What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable? Tell us in the comment section below.

— Patch Field Editor David Mills contributed reporting.



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