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DRINKING THAT WILL
IN THE TIME SHOWN
RESULT IN A BAC OF .05%
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2 HOURS
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WEIGHT IN POUNDS
The law in most U.S. states sets the
legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In
Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in
some other countries it's lower than
that. The RAC will be over 0.10 percent
after three to six drinks (in one hour).
Of course, as we've seen, it depends on
how much alcohol is in the drinks, and
how quickly the person drinks them.
But it's very important to keep in mind
that the ability to drive is affected well
below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research
shows that
the
driving skills of many
people are impaired at a BAC
approaching 0.05 percent, and that the
effects are worse at night. All drivers
are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05
percent. Statistics show that the chance
of being in an accident increases sharply
for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05
percent or above. A driver with a BAC
level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one
hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person)
has doubled his or her chance of having
an accident. At
a
BAC level of 0.10
percent, the chance of that driver having
an accident is six times greater; at a
level of 0.15 percent, the chances are
twenty-five times greater! And, the body
takes about an hour to rid itself of the
alcohol in one drink. No amount of
coffee or number of cold showers will
speed that up.
"I'll be careful" isn't the right answer.
What if there's an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when a child
darts into the street? A person with a
higher BAC might
not
be able to react
quickly enough to avoid the collision.
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