1996 Chevrolet S10 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 134

Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reacha higher BAC level thana man of her same body weight when each has same the number ofdrinks. The law in manyU.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some other countries, it's even lower. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after threeto six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we've seen, it depends on how much alcoholis in the drinks, and how quickly the persondrinks them. But the ability todrive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many peopleare impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects worse at night. are All drivers are impaired at BAC levelsabove 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharplyfor drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver witha BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 timesgreater! It's the amount of alcohol thatcounts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person's BAC would beclose to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. 4-3