Though some have come out in support of the measure, others remain skeptical. For instance, a spokesman for the Utah Restaurant Association has said that while drunk driving is a serious problem, the majority of fatal accidents occur among very intoxicated drivers, not among those with very low BAC levels. Data supports this idea, with numbers showing that the average BAC for a drunk driver involved in a fatal accident is nearly twice the current legal limit, or 0.16 percent. Even Mothers Against Drunk Driving have said they are neutral to the proposed lower limit, saying that police resources are best spent trying to stop severely intoxicated, repeat drunk drivers.
Additionally, Utah is a state with an especially small number of drunk driving traffic deaths, at least when compared to other regions. Nationally, around 31 percent of all traffic deaths are alcohol related. In Utah, the number is 12.5 percent. Some experts say that this makes Utah the state with the lowest drunk driving fatality rate. The reality is that the socially conservative state is already safe for motorists and opponents to the measure say that further measures are unnecessary and will instead result in the needless incarceration of drivers.
Source: “Utah Drunk Driving Laws May Get Tougher,” published at KUTV.com.