The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Quarterback Needed

5.5.09 @ 6:01AM

(Page 3 of 5)

Just to clarify a few facts: 

MADD does not support a lower BAC level for the general public. We support .08 BAC for everyone.  

MADD is not against responsible drinking by those 21 and older.

We've also helped save more than 330,000 lives since our founding and serve about 50,000 victims/survivors every year at no charge. 

I'm very disappointed to see ongoing misinformation about an organization committed to saving lives and preventing injuries. 

Background:

An average 170-pound man must have more than four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach to reach a .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. A 137-pound woman would reach .08 BAC after about three drinks in an hour on an empty stomach (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) – a level that exceeds what is commonly accepted as social drinking.

Regardless of how much alcohol it takes to get to this level, at .08 BAC any driver is a dangerous threat on the road. .08 BAC is the level at which the fatal crash risk significantly increases and virtually everyone is seriously impaired, affecting all of the basic critical driving skills including: braking, steering, lane changing, judgment and response time (NHTSA). 

The risk of a driver being killed in a crash at .08 BAC is at least 11 times that of drivers without alcohol in their system. At .10 BAC the risk is at least 29 times higher (Zador). 

More than 20 percent of alcohol-related traffic deaths involve BAC levels below .10 percent (NHTSA).

If every state enforces the .08 BAC law, about 500 lives will be saved each year (Hingson, et al). 

.08 BAC is a proven effective measure to reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths. Studies have shown a 6 to 8 percent reduction in alcohol-related traffic deaths in states following the passage of .08 BAC (MADD).
-- Misty Moyse
Director of Media Relations, MADD National
Irving, Texas

TOUGH LUCK, SAILORS
Re: George H. Wittman's Admiral Wu Steams Full Ahead:

Our US Navy, the continued bastion of liberalism in our military organization, unfortunately has the mission to deal with China's dream of a resurgent world super power. Unfortunately for us, it lines up nicely with our new administration's view of military policy.
-- Condon McDonough

WHERE IS THE PRESS?
Re: Quin Hillyer's The Facts on Fascism:

Letter to the Editor