Lower the Drunk Driving Limit to 0.05 BAC
Every year, thousands of Americans are killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. The United States currently sets its federal blood alcohol content (BAC) driving limit at 0.08 g/dL — a threshold that research consistently shows is still dangerous. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Community Preventive Services Task Force have all identified lowering the BAC limit to 0.05 g/dL as an effective, evidence-based intervention to reduce traffic fatalities.
The evidence is compelling. When the U.S. previously lowered the BAC limit from 0.10 to 0.08, multiple studies documented significant reductions in impaired-driving fatal crashes. Utah became the first state to adopt a 0.05 limit in 2018, and research from UC Irvine's medical school found it significantly reduced drunk driving fatalities. More than 100 countries worldwide already use a 0.05 BAC standard, and a 2019 NHTSA survey found that 53% of U.S. drivers support making the same change nationally.
Congress has the authority to incentivize or mandate that all states adopt a 0.05 BAC limit — just as it did in 2001 when it conditioned federal highway funding on states lowering their limits from 0.10 to 0.08. Constituents are urging their federal representatives to support legislation that would lower the national BAC driving limit to 0.05 g/dL, saving thousands of lives each year.
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Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support federal legislation lowering the legal blood alcohol content driving limit from 0.08 to 0.05 grams per deciliter. Research from the National Academies of Sciences, NHTSA, and peer-reviewed studies consistently shows that drivers are meaningfully impaired at 0.05 BAC. When the U.S. previously lowered the limit from 0.10 to 0.08, fatal crash rates dropped by measurable margins. Utah's adoption of the 0.05 standard in 2018 produced a significant reduction in drunk driving fatalities. Over 100 countries already use this safer threshold. Congress has acted before — conditioning federal highway funds on states adopting the 0.08 limit — and can do so again to bring the U.S. in line with global safety standards. The constituent respectfully asks {{representative_name}} to co-sponsor or support any legislation that would lower the national BAC driving limit to 0.05 g/dL. Will {{representative_name}}'s office commit to supporting this life-saving measure?
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support federal legislation lowering the legal blood alcohol content driving limit from 0.08 to 0.05 grams per deciliter. Research from the National Academies of Sciences, NHTSA, and Utah's real-world experience all confirm that a 0.05 BAC limit saves lives. Congress has the authority to act — as it did when it previously mandated the 0.08 standard — and the constituent asks {{representative_name}} to co-sponsor or support legislation making this change now. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.