.05 or .08: where to draw the line

There is no excuse for driving while intoxicated. It's reckless and dangerous behavior that puts innocent people at risk.

Still, we're skeptical of federal transportation and safety officials' push to lower the legal driving limit to a 0.05 blood-alcohol level. We're not sure there are significant safety gains that would justify the change.

We're not persuaded by arguments pointing to similar blood alcohol content restrictions in Europe, where public transit is plentiful and commonly used.

And just how impaired is someone at 0.05 (one drink in an hour can produce that level in some adults)? Where do we stop drawing the line?

Earlier this month, the National Transportation and Safety Board voted to support yet again lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers. They're hoping states will reduce the legal blood-alcohol level limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05.

Proponents of the change say that even alcohol levels that low can affect a driver's judgment and competence behind the wheel. The more alcohol in a driver's system, the worse the effects. Local law enforcement officials say that while they always favor making roads safer, they're skeptical that a lower limit will pass.

No question, impaired driving is still a problem. Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin recently told a reporter that alcohol was a factor in more than half the fatal accidents reported to that department last year.

The bottom line is that drivers must be responsible and hand over the keys when they've been drinking, not only because they risk getting a ticket if they don't.

As for the penalties, until there's clear and convincing evidence for a change to .05, we think .08 is sufficient to keep most dangerous drivers off the road and punish those who are irresponsible enough to drive anyway.

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