Senate panel hears research, survivor testimony and agency support for lowering state BAC limit to 0.05
A Senate Transportation work session reviewed data and a public survey showing majority support for lowering Washington’s per-se BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05; law-enforcement and transportation officials framed the change as a prevention policy that would not alter stop or arrest standards.
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Mark McKechnie, external relations director at the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, told the Senate Transportation Committee that alcohol was involved in 57.7% of impaired-driving fatalities in recent years and that Washington recorded 809 traffic fatalities in 2023 and 737 in 2024. He said international studies show roughly an 11% decrease in alcohol-related traffic deaths after lowering per‑se limits and described a November 2025 AAA/Washington Traffic Safety Commission survey of 850 adults that found baseline support for reducing the per‑se limit from 0.08 to 0.05 rose from 54% to 71% after respondents were given safety information.
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