TEXAS. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1.1 million drivers were arrested in 2014 for drunk driving. Among these drivers, some of them were truck drivers. It may sound absurd to think that a truck driver, who is responsible for driving a multi-ton vehicle would consider drinking and driving, but if you look at the headlines, you’ll see many cases where drivers were found guilty of drunk driving after a truck accident. Fortunately, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drunk drivers is currently 0.04.
Bystanders describing the scene of an accident to the police officer
Yet, the legal limit for the general population in most states remains double this. Some critics blame states for having high blood alcohol concentration limits. Some believe that these limits are too permissive, allowing drivers to have one or two drinks and still get behind the wheel. Drivers might be buzzed, but still under the legal limit when tested by officers. Only Utah has lowered its blood alcohol concentration limits to meet current recommendations. Utah is the only state with a 0.05 blood alcohol concentration limit. All other states have a limit of 0.08, despite the fact that the National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the BAC be lowered to 0.05 in all states, according to Mother Jones. Research has shown that individuals under the current 0.08 legal limit in most states are still dangerous when their BAC is above 0.05. There may be many dangerous, but technically legal, drivers on the road.
Unfortunately, when people drink and drive, the people most often hurt are innocent victims who are passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers. Evidence suggests that when the BAC is lowered to 0.05, fewer people choose to get behind the wheel after drinking because for many people, just one or two drinks is enough to put them over this limit.
While other states have considered lowering their limits, the alcohol industry is fighting to stop these laws. Individuals who sell alcohol, bar owners, and the tourism industry in states where the laws have been proposed have fought them. This is despite evidence that suggests that people drink no less when the BAC has been lowered.
Yet, even MADD has been reluctant to support a lowered BAC of 0.05. Some members worry that it distracts from repeat offenders and from individuals with truly high and dangerous BAC levels. After all, if a truck driver’s lowered BAC of 0.04 is not enough to deter some drivers from getting behind the wheel of a big rig, then clearly other factors need to be considered when fighting drunk driving.
One way families can fight back is by pursuing lawsuits against drunk drivers after an accident. The Cooper Law Firm are Texas truck accident lawyers who help families fight back when a loved one has been hurt due to the actions of a person who has chosen to drink and drive. If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, consider reaching out to the Cooper Law Firm today. We may be able to help.
Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037
