How to determine BAC and obtain keys from drunk drivers

Posted: 11.13.2008 at 12:17 PM

ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT CHART
MALES

APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE
Drinks *	BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS								EFFECT ON PERSON
	100	120	140	160	180	200	220	240
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	ONLY SAFE DRIVING LIMIT
1	.04	.03	.03	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02	IMPAIRMENT BEGINS.
2	.08	.06	.05	.05	.04	.04	.03	.03	IMPAIRMENT BEGINS.
3	.11	.09	.08	.07	.06	.06	.05	.05	DRIVING SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
4	.15	.12	.11	.09	.08	.08	.07	.06	DRIVING SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
5	.19	.16	.13	.12	.11	.09	.09	.08	LEGALLY INTOXICATED. CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN ALL STATES **
6	.23	.19	.16	.14	.13	.11	.10	.09
7	.26	.22	.19	.16	.15	.13	.12	.11
8	.30	.25	.21	.19	.17	.15	.14	.13
9	.34	.28	.24	.21	.19	.17	.15	.14
10	.38	.31	.27	.23	.21	.19	.17	.16

Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
* One drink is equal to 1¼ oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 4 oz. of table wine.

ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT CHART
FEMALES

APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE
Drinks *	BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS									EFFECT ON PERSON
	90	100	120	140	160	180	200	220	240
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	ONLY SAFE DRIVING LIMIT
1	.05	.05	.04	.03	.03	.03	.02	.02	.02	IMPAIRMENT BEGINS.
2	.10	.09	.08	.07	.06	.05	.05	.04	.04	DRIVING SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
3	.15	.14	.11	.11	.09	.08	.07	.06	.06	DRIVING SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
4	.20	.18	.15	.13	.11	.10	.09	.08	.08	LEGALLY INTOXICATED. CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN ALL STATES **
5	.25	.23	.19	.16	.14	.13	.11	.10	.09
6	.30	.27	.23	.19	.17	.15	.14	.12	.11
7	.35	.32	.27	.23	.20	.18	.16	.14	.13
8	.40	.36	.30	.26	.23	.20	.18	.17	.15
9	.45	.41	.34	.29	.26	.23	.20	.19	.17
10	.51	.45	.38	.32	.28	.25	.23	.21	.19

Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
* One drink is equal to 1¼ oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 4 oz. of table wine.

Here are some helpful tips and advice from focus group research on how people can get the keys away from a drunk driver:

1.	If it is a close friend, try and use a soft, calm approach at first. Suggest to them that they’ve had too much to drink and it would be better if someone else drove or if they took a cab.
2.	Be calm. Joke about it. Make light of it.
3.	Try to make it sound like you are doing them a favor.
4.	If it is somebody you don’t know well, speak to their friends and have them make an attempt to persuade them to hand over the keys. Usually they will listen.
5.	If it’s a good friend, spouse, or significant other, tell them that if they insist on driving, you are not going with them. Suggest that you will call someone else for a ride, take a cab, or walk.
6.	Locate their keys while they are preoccupied and take them away. Most likely, they will think they’ve lost them and will be forced to find another mode of transportation.
7.	If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational, particularly when dealing with men. This makes them appear vulnerable to alcohol and its effects.

Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk

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