More than 10,000 people die every year from drunk driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is why Assemblyman Felix Ortiz and Sen. John Liu say they are calling on the legislature to lower the legal limit for drivers' blood alcohol content from .08 to .05.
"This common sense bill will help prevent senseless tragedies caused by drunk driving,” Liu said.
In the 1960s and '70s, states adopted a .10 BAC limit. Then between 1983 and 2005, states lowered the limit to to .08.
Studies have shown lowering the limit seemed to indicate a 5 percent to 16 percent reduction in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities or injuries.
Motorists can also be charged in New York with driving while ability impaired for blood alcohol content between .05 and .08. The National Transportation Safety Board in 2013 recommended for states to lower the blood alcohol limit to .05.
So far, Utah is the only state to pass a statewide law lowering the limit, but multiple other countries have also enacted this law.
“This is a matter of public safety, and we must take steps to ensure our loved ones make it home safely,” Ortiz said.
This is not the first time Ortiz has made a stance on alcohol safety. Ortiz was part of the push to get Four Loko drinks banned from the state in 2010. Legislation prohibiting the sale of the original Four Loko was passed later that year in the state.