.05 Saves Lives is a Michigan-wide dedicated group of nonprofits, policy experts, and private citizens united to reduce drunk driving deaths in our Great Lakes State.
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The standard for determining a driver’s intoxication level is called a “Blood Alcohol Content” or “BAC”. The BAC is a measurement of alcohol in the blood as a percentage.[1] The national, legal limit for the United States is a .08 BAC. Each state determines its own BAC level, not exceeding .08. With the exception of Utah (.05), all of the states have their BAC legal limit set at .08. More on Utah below.
An average person needs to consume upwards of 2-4 drinks in 1 hour to reach a .08 BAC.
These factors affect one’s BAC level:
- Weight – a person with a lower weight will reach an intoxicated level more quickly than someone with a higher weight
- Gender (sex assigned at birth) – studies indicate that the amount of muscle mass and “total body water content” can have an effect on how quickly one becomes intoxicated:
- Muscle mass = more muscle mass means a slower absorption of alcohol
- Total body water content = “Women have proportionally more body fat and less water than do men of the same body weights. Because alcohol is dispersed in body water, women reach higher peak BACs than men after consuming equivalent doses of alcohol, even when doses are adjusted for body weight.”[2]
- Amount of food and alcohol consumed over a period of time:
- More food in the system slows the absorption of alcohol
- A higher amount of alcohol consumed over a shorter amount of time will result in an increased BAC.
Research over the last decade demonstrates that a .05 BAC (instead of .08) can have a profound effect on lowering drunk driving deaths and increasing public safety.
Now: let’s dive into the data.
A .05 BAC legal limit could save an estimated 50-70 lives per year in our state, increase public safety, and save our Michigan taxpayers millions of dollars each year.
You may be wondering how we calculated “millions of dollars.” Research has taught us that a drunk driving injury or death not only affects the individual and their livelihood (if they survive), but can even include such factors as:
- health care expenses for them or their families – medical, physical rehabilitation, mental (e.g. trauma), prescription needs, or medical devices that the victim(s) may need
- loss in wages or benefits for the victim if they are unable to work or are permanently disabled
- disability needs or services they may now require
- financial strains on public services or community resources, such as: hospitals for emergency room visits, costs to the city to repair infrastructure damaged in the crash, the time for public officials like police or fire to respond to cases; civil or criminal justice system costs
- funeral expenses
More information on these statistics can be found in both our .05 Issue Brief:
And a University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) 2023 study, page 2:
Both of these documents will open as PDFs in separate tabs.
When the only state in our country (Utah) lowered its BAC from .08 to .05, they saw a 19.8% decrease in alcohol-related traffic accident fatalities between 2016 and 2019.
Researchers have found that the probability of a fatal crash rises significantly after hitting the .05 BAC threshold and even more rapidly after reaching .08.[3]
According to the organization Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (an alliance of consumer, medical, and law enforcement agencies aiming to improve road safety in the U.S.), at a .05 BAC, a driver is impaired and exhibits reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, and reduced response to emergency driving situations.[3]
Lowering the BAC to .05 has been shown to result in a broad deterrent effect that reduces the incidence of drunk driving and saves lives — but does not increase arrests or lower alcohol consumption. Check out our issue brief for more information on this point.
What type of work has .05 Saves Lives done recently?
Since our organization began in 2024, we’ve been building collaborative relationships with organizations that share our vision. We’ve been working together to educate our community and engage fellow advocates about this critical public policy initiative.
In the spring of 2025, our volunteers spoke with and distributed educational materials to the Michigan legislature about the public safety benefits and the research behind a .05 BAC policy.
L-R: Mike Tobias, Gwen Moore, Michael MacLaren
L-R: Bill Amundsen, Mike Tobias
This past year, .05 Saves Lives has also:
- Participated in educational seminars hosted by the Center for Alcohol Policy, designed to guide nonprofits as they work to implement public policy change
- Attended a national alcohol-related law and public policy conference
- Testified in front of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) about the safety of a reduced BAC
- Educated and engaged our community and legislative leaders
Who are some of your collaborators?
The following organizations have committed to the .05 Saves Lives initiative:
- MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) – MADD is an international nonprofit that has had a massive impact in the field of improving public safety. Their vision is to end impaired driving for good.
- SMARTER-USA – the Skilled Motorcyclist Association–Responsible, Trained, and Educated Riders, Inc. SMARTER is a Michigan-based organization that educates and advocates for safe motorcycling practices.
- CUYFD – the Center for Urban Youth and Family Development, a nonprofit based in Detroit, MI. This organization supports youth transitioning through the foster care system, with life skills, education on substance abuse, and access to workforce development programs.
Want to join the movement?
We’d love to talk with you! We hold monthly Zoom meetings and collaborate with our volunteers based on each person’s talents, skills, and interests. You can email us by clicking the button below:
[1] “Blood alcohol concentration is a measure of alcohol in the blood as a percentage. It is calculated in grams per 100 mL of blood, so a BAC of 0.08 means your blood is 0.08% alcohol by volume.”: (n.d.). Alcohol and Other Drugs: Blood alcohol content calculator. Indiana University Indianapolis. https://alcohol.indianapolis.iu.edu/calculators/bac.html
[2] Mumenthaler MS, Taylor JL, O’Hara R, Yesavage JA. Gender differences in moderate drinking effects. Alcohol Res Health. 1999;23(1):55-64. PMID: 10890798; PMCID: PMC6761697.
[3] NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) (n.d.). Drunk Driving: How alcohol affects driving ability. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving