New legislation would lower state's drunken-driving limit to 0.05

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Newly introduced legislation would make Michigan the second state to lower its drunken-driving limit to a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is supporting the House bill that was proposed by Democrats Thursday. It would drop the limit to 0.05 percent, from 0.08 percent — the limit in 48 other states.

Utah’s 0.05 threshold took effect in December.

MADD President Helen Witty says critical driving skills are impaired at a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05.

The sponsor, Democratic Rep. Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn, says more must be done to prevent “a completely avoidable epidemic.” He points to how five Michigan family members were killed in January when a suspected drunken driver headed the wrong way on Interstate 75 in Kentucky.