Public Wants Legal Intoxication Level Lowered, Survey Reports
WASHINGTON — Nearly seven in 10 Americans favor lowering the legal blood alcohol content level below the limits that prevail in most states, according to a holiday season survey released Friday by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In addition, 53% of respondents ranked drunken drivers as the nation’s No. 1 highway safety problem, the poll said. People who drive too fast ranked second at 19%.
The survey, sponsored by the Allstate Insurance Co., is part of a push for legislation introduced in Congress that would require states to lower their legal blood alcohol content levels to 0.08 percent or risk losing some of their federal highway aid. The measure has not advanced out of House and Senate committees.
“We are . . . calling on our government here in the nation’s capital and in every state capital to take swift and decisive action to combat this major public health and safety problem,†Katherine Prescott, MADD national president, said at a news conference.
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia enforce 0.1% blood alcohol levels, while 15 states already have the lower 0.08% limit. According to the survey, 69% of respondents would like to see the level lowered to 0.08 percent.
The poll also found that 31% of people admit they have driven after drinking too much, and 79% believe the roads are more dangerous during the holidays because of drunken drivers.
The telephone survey of 1,000 Americans was conducted by the Market Facts research firm from Nov. 3 to 5. The margin of error is approximately plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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