GRAND FORKS - Will the new .08 blood-alcohol content law reduce highway fatalities? Let's look at 1992, the last year for which data is available to the general public via the annual Crash Facts Book put out by the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
In 1992, 19 highway deaths or 21.6 percent of all 88 traffic fatalities involved people with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .20 or higher. Seven deaths involved a BAC of .15 to .20. Three deaths involved a BAC of .10 to .15.
And the grand total of fatalities involving a BAC of .10 and below was one.
Is the new .08 BAC law really going to have any significant effect on North Dakota fatalities?
In studying the Crash Facts Book and other reports, you'll find an attempt by the powers that be to label all accidents as "alcohol related," regardless of BAC level. With virtually no restrictions on what an officer may classify as "alcohol related," the term has become almost meaningless and the BAC levels above have become even more important.
It is true that North Dakota will lose highway funds if it rejects the .08 law, due to the blackmail force being applied by the federal government. But what about the cost of lowering BAC to .08?
These costs will include lost tax revenue in the hospitality and gaming industries, lost jobs in employment and sales, loss of employment due to people losing their drivers' licenses, families needing help due to job losses or legal expenses, more cases to clog our court systems and loss of police officers' valuable time to enforce marginal BAC offenses - all for little or no gain in safety.
Those desiring to further investigate National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration data (which helped influence the federal government to mandate the .08 BAC) should visit the web site www.ridl.us. RIDL, by the way, stands for Responsibility in Drinking Laws.
Harry Bushaw
Bushaw owns the Bun Lounge in Grand Forks.