1995 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 140

man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in many U.S. states setsthe 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 countriesit's even lower. The BAC limit for all commercial driversin the U.S. 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 alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAClevels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for driverswho have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC levelof 0.0'6percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. Ata BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chanceof this driver having collision is twelve times greater; at a a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is twenty-five times greater! The body takes about an hour rid itself of the alcohol to in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold It's the amount of alcohol that counts. For example,if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 rnl of liquor each) within an hour, the person's BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinkingwill have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC levelthan a 4-3