Motorists warned against exceeding alcohol level

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— A motorist whose level of alcohol in the blood is greater than 0.05 will be found guilty of violating the Anti-Drunk and Drug Driving Act of 2013, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Friday over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

“A greater than 0.05 alcohol level is what was agreed upon in our meeting with other government agencies involved in the drafting of the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) for RA 10586,” said LTO chiief Virginia Torres said.

Blood alcohol content (BAC) measures the amount of alcohol per 100 mg of blood. A BAC of 0.05 percent means 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

Torres said the World Health Organization recommends an alcohol blood level of 0.05.

She explained that a BAC of 0.05 is equivalent to four to five bottles of alcoholic beverages but the effect would depend upon the persons’ body type or capacity to absorb alcohol.

Aside from LTO, other agencies involved in the drafting of the IRR are the Department of Health and the Philippine National Police.

Torres said while they have three months to draft the IRR, their target was to finish it by July 9 and submit it to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

President Benigno Aquino III on May 27 signed RA 10586 to protect the public from those driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs.

Under the new law, driver’s education is a requirement for all those getting or renewing their licences.

Law enforcement agencies are empowered to conduct field sobriety, chemical, and confirmatory tests.

The law also requires alcohol and chemical testing for drivers involved in vehicular accidents, whether these resulted in death or in physical injuries.