Laboratory analysis of risky driving at 0.05% and 0.08% blood alcohol concentration.

Background: The public health costs associated with alcohol-related traffic crashes are a continuing problem for society. One harm reduction strategy has been to employ per se limits for blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at which drivers can legally operate motor vehicles. This limit is currently 0.

Distraction produces over-additive increases in the degree to which alcohol impairs driving performance.

Rationale: Research indicates that alcohol intoxication and increased demands on drivers' attention from distractions (e.g., passengers and cell phones) contribute to poor driving performance and increased rates of traffic accidents and fatalities.