The National Transportation Safety Board said this week that states should reduce the blood-alcohol level that qualifies as drunken driving from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent to reduce the risk of a crash.
The board's opinion mirrors that of the European Union, which in 2010 set a goal of cutting alcohol-related crashes in half, and succeeded according to USA Today. Europe is now trying to cut the number in half again by 2023.
The board said at a hearing in Washington that the U.S. is behind other countries, including most of Europe, in lowering the drunken driving limit.
"This is critical because impaired driving remains one of the biggest killers in the United States," said Deborah Hersman, the NTSB chairman at the hearing. "To make a bold difference will require bold action. But it can be done."
Approximately one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths are related to alcohol according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The number of people who were killed on U.S. roads increased last year after the number decreased six straight years in a row. Crash fatalities increased 5.3 percent to 34,080 in 2012 compared to the previous year according to the NHTSA.
While the safety board has no authority to make laws or regulations, it can issue recommendations to states and U.S. agencies according to their website. Each state is allowed to set its own driving laws, including those regarding drunken driving.
The difference between .08 and .05 is one to two mixed drinks, 12-ounce beers, or glasses of win over three hours depending on gender and body size.
Studies conducted at the John Hopkins University Center for Health Education and Wellness claims that a 180-pound man can drink four alcoholic beverages in three hours before reaching .05, where as a 140 pound woman could have three alcoholic drinks over the same time period.
"It's frustrating that with the education and advocacy, with laws and enforcement and with the many processes set up to deal with the problem of drinking and driving, that we are still seeing so many lives lost," Hersman said at the hearing.
Other recommendations made at the hearing included a suggestion that states should require steering locks that test a driver's breath before previously convicted drunk drivers attempt to start their vehicle, and creating special courts to handle drunk-driving related cases according to USA Today.
Not everyone agrees with the recommendations made in Washington however. The American Beverage Institute, a trade group that represents 8,000 restaurants, claims the report is "ludicrous" and is focused more towards moderate drinkers than dangerous drunken drivers.
"This recommendation is ludicrous," said Sarah Longwell, the institutes's managing director in a press statement. "Further restricting the moderate consumption of alcohol by responsible adults prior to driving does nothing to stop hard-core drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel."
Related Articles:
Hyundai Reveals New Assurance Connected Care Campaign Featuring Remixed Bob Marley Song (VIDEO)
Gas-Pump Video Staged? Karaoke Couple Pranked by Jay Leno Are Trained Actors (WATCH HERE)
Beaten With Skateboards: Man Nearly Dies While Breaking up a Fight, 4 Arrested (VIDEO)
Tennis Player Drowns After Diving Accident, Alcohol Not Involved (VIDEO)
Chrysler to Recall 469,000 Jeep SUVs Worldwide to Fix Shift Issues
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
