Utah's stricter 0.05 BAC limit significantly reduces drunk driving fatalities, analysis finds

Article excerpt

Utah's decision to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05 grams per deciliter has produced measurable results: alcohol-related crash fatalities dropped significantly more sharply in Utah than in its six neighboring states, according to research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The analysis suggests the stricter threshold may prevent deaths on a broader scale. Utah became the first state to adopt the lower limit, which matches standards in many European countries.