Originally Posted by jfmckenna
The drunken driving laws are completely out of control in the USA today. It's absolutely ridiculous. It's time for the pendulum to swing back the other way.
During 2004,
16,694 people in the U.S.
died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths (NHTSA 2005).
You think the laws are too strict in the U.S.? Try Sweden. Sweden's .02 blood-alcohol limit is four times lower than limits in the U.S. Moreover, penalties for drunk driving in Sweden are severe. Sweden considers a .10 blood-alcohol limit "aggravated" drunk driving. Imprisonment (of up two years) is the recommended punishment for driving with a .10 blood-alcohol limit.
Interestingly, it's reported that 3.3% of Sweden's fatal traffic accidents "were suspected by police of alcohol involvement", while "18% had alcohol based on fatally injured drivers autopsied." Hmm, that's less than half the rate of alcohol related motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.