Feds advise states to lower blood alcohol limit for drivers to .05%

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday that states should change the .08 percent blood alcohol threshhold for drivers to .05 percent "or lower" to help curb traffic fatalities due to drunk driving. 

Over 100 nations have a standard at or lower than .05 percent, and after its adoption in Europe deaths related to drunk driving fell by more than half in a decade, the agency said, according to the Associated Press. 

In the US, an estimated 10,000 people die in drunk-driving related incidents every year, a figure that accounts for a third of all highway deaths, said Reuters, citing the agency. 

Even though the agency's advice promises to save lives, it's likely to see resistance at the state level, Jonathan Adkins of the Governors Highway Safety Association told AP on Tuesday. 

"It was very difficult to get .08 in most states so lowering it again won't be popular," he said. "The focus in the states is on high [blood alcohol content] offenders as well as repeat offenders. We expect industry will also be very vocal about keeping the limit at .08."

The agency's call Tuesday is part of their "Reaching Zero" campaign meant to raise awareness about drunk driving, said Reuters.