Originally Posted by ajay677
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.
36,000 people a year die of the flu in america. Maybe instead of arresting people for riding their bicycles drunk, we should arrest sick people for being in public.