This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the last week, The Tribune has had several opinion pieces arguing against Utah implementing a 0.05 DUI standard. The main argument seems to be that responsible drinkers can drink and drive. But responsible drinkers do not drink and drive! We have spent a lot of time over the last few decades encouraging designated drivers, and that effort should not be ignored.
Despite arguments that compare 0.05 to talking on a cellphone, the reality is that having any alcohol in the blood can impair reaction time and decision making. While a phone can be put down and the driver can stop talking, alcohol cannot be removed from the blood while driving. Cellphone use in a car should not be compared to drinking and driving. Drivers cannot drink responsibly and drive.
A driver with a blood alcohol level from 0.05 to 0.079 is seven times more likely to be in a fatal car crash than if there is no alcohol in the blood. The 0.05 standard is estimated to save at least 20 Utah lives a year and many more that would be seriously injured. That should be a reason enough to implement 0.05.
We do not tell our kids to have one or two drinks and drive. We do not tell our families to have one or two drinks and drive. We also do not tell tourists to come to Utah to drink and drive! We tell everyone not to drink and drive. House Bill 155's 0.05 sends a clear message: Do not drink and drive.
Another argument seems to be due to misinformation. Law enforcement usually focuses on drivers that exhibit visible driving violations. When stopped, the standard operating procedure is to have the driver perform a physical test to see and witness if the driver is impaired. If the driver does not appropriately perform the test, a breathalyzer is then used to confirm that alcohol is in or out of limits.
There are also arguments that insurance costs will go up for bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. But it is harder to see if a drinker has had too many drinks than if one ensures that there is a designated driver. Insurance costs should go down if there are 20 or more fewer deaths and significantly fewer serious injuries.
I agree with those that say that drunk driving is a serious issue. But HB155 should be recognized as a serious effort to decrease the pain and suffering caused by drinking and driving. The very clear message from the bill is do not drink and drive. As the National Transportation Safety Board has said, such a message discourages drinking and driving overall so the DUI statistics may not change much. But serious and fatal accidents will decrease.
Despite HB155 opponent's statements that this sends the wrong message to tourists, we should not tell tourists to drink and drive. This bill discourages tourist drinking and driving and will also save their lives. The biggest deterrent to increasing tourism is dead tourists!
Gov. Gary Herbert should sign HB155, and Utah should send the important, life saving message to our kids, to our families, to all Utahns and even to tourists: do not drink and drive. Responsible drinkers do not drink and drive, and drinking and driving is not responsible.
George Chapman is a former candidate for mayor of Salt Lake City.