Drunk Driving claims the lives of thousands of Americans each year. Because alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and deaths have become such a serious problem throughout the country, many advocates have pushed for tougher driving under the influence (DUI) laws to deter motorists from getting behind the wheel while impaired. One federal agency – the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) – has supported a number of changes to DUI laws, including lowering the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit from .08% to .05%.
While some countries enforce a .05% legal limit, South Carolina and the rest of the United States set the limit at .08%. According to several state and local authorities who shared their thoughts with WMBF News, lowering the state’s DUI limit simply isn’t necessary. They cited several reasons:
- South Carolina drivers can be arrested for DUI with BAC levels under .08 if it can be proven that their ability to drive was significantly impaired.
- Studies show that close to 70% of drunk driving fatalities involve drivers with a BAC of .15 or higher.
- The majority of DUI cases in South Carolina involve drivers with BAC levels between .08 and .12.
According to authorities, lowering the limit would have little effect on DUI accidents, especially those involving high BAC levels. The focus, they say, should be placed on educating drivers about the dangers of drunk drivers and aggressively prosecuting and penalizing those who cause car wrecks, injuries, and deaths while under the influence.
The Dangers of Drunk Driving
Although authorities may disagree with lowering the state’s legal limit, there is no arguing with the fact that drunk driving is dangerous. According to the NTSB, a .05 BAC level can affect a driver by reducing coordination, causing difficulty with steering, and slowing their response time to emergency situations. This level of impairment can place others at risk of suffering preventable harm during car accidents.
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, our South Carolina car accident attorneys are committed to representing injured victims and families who have suffered harm in preventable accidents. Because driving under the influence is entirely preventable, drunk driving accident victims may have the right to recover financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
If you or someone you love has been harmed in a drunk driving accident, our firm can help! We offer free consultations and are available immediately to review your case from office locations across the state, including North Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Orangeburg, Myrtle Beach and more!