New reporting from KSL is drawing attention to Utah’s .05% blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers. An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study links that stricter limit to a lasting drop in alcohol-related crashes.
For families in Brigham City and across Box Elder County, the study is good news. It also carries a quieter warning about the drivers who are still getting arrested.
What the new study found
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) looked at the first four years of crash data after Utah’s .05% law took effect on Dec. 30, 2018. The researchers found the law was associated with a nearly 9% reduction in alcohol-related crashes.
The share of injury crashes involving alcohol fell 12%, according to IIHS. When Utah was compared with Arizona, Colorado and Idaho, its share of alcohol-involved crashes dropped 12% to 21%. The rate went up in those comparison states.
The picture was not perfectly smooth. IIHS reported that alcohol-involved crashes in Utah spiked 46% during the March to May 2020 COVID-19 lockdown before that spike faded.
The researchers were also honest about limits. Many Utahns do not drink for religious reasons, and the study could not fully account for the state’s unique alcohol culture.
The number families should notice
In KSL’s report on the study, Jason Mettmann of the Utah Highway Safety Office said the state has seen crashes decrease since 2023. He also said DUI arrests have increased.
Then he shared the detail that stands out. “On average, the BAC on a DUI arrest is .15. That’s three times the legal limit,” Mettmann told KSL.
Mettmann said the trend suggests the biggest threat on Utah roads comes from drivers with extremely high levels of impairment.
A BAC number alone does not establish whether someone has alcohol use disorder. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that clinicians assess a pattern of symptoms, including difficulty cutting down, alcohol-related problems and needing more alcohol to get the same effect.
KSL also noted a newer Utah law, HB437. It puts a red “No Alcohol sale” banner on the driver’s licenses of people convicted of extreme DUI offenses.
What this means in Northern Utah
A stricter law can change behavior. It cannot treat the reasons a person keeps drinking.
For some families, a DUI brings concerns about drinking into the open. It is a reason to ask questions and seek an assessment, not to diagnose someone from an arrest or a news statistic.
Many people with a DUI are also asked by a court or probation officer to complete an evaluation. That evaluation can be a real turning point if it is honest and thorough, and if it leads to the right level of care.
How Beecon Recovery can help
Beecon Recovery offers mental health and substance use evaluations for people seeking help on their own, fulfilling a court order or referred by a probation officer. A licensed clinician meets with each person in a confidential setting. When required, the evaluation includes a written report and ASAM placement recommendations.
If treatment is recommended, our alcohol and drug treatment services in Utah include partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient programs. An evaluation helps identify which level of care is appropriate.
Drinking and mental health often show up together. Our alcohol treatment in Brigham City looks at both, not just the drinking.
If you are worried about someone you love
You do not have to wait for a crash or an arrest. Here are a few practical steps.
- Notice patterns, not single nights. Needing more alcohol to feel the same effect, drinking before driving, or hiding how much they drink are worth paying attention to.
- Talk when they are sober and calm. Use “I” statements, like “I get scared when you drive after drinking,” instead of labels.
- Arrange a sober ride and never get into a car with an impaired driver. If an impaired driver is on the road right now, call 911.
- If there has already been a DUI, treat the required evaluation as a starting point, not just paperwork.
- Get support for yourself too. Family therapy offers a setting to work on communication and boundaries.
If someone has been drinking heavily, suddenly stopping can cause dangerous withdrawal. Seek medical guidance rather than attempting to manage withdrawal alone.
Not sure whether it has crossed a line? Our guide on how to tell if you have a problem with alcohol is a good place to start.
Take the next step
A road-safety law and support for a drinking problem serve different needs. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol, Beecon Recovery in Brigham City is here to talk.
Call (435) 246-4327 or contact us online to ask about an evaluation or treatment options.
