Suppose 15% of people have green eyes (or pick whatever color you like). An analysis of fatal accidents shows that 25% of them involve one person, 25% two people, 25% three people, and 25% four people. But over 32% of the accidents are "green-eye related". Would that constitute proof that we need to do something about this "green-eyed menace"? Why do we continue to allow green-eyed people on the road? What good are they anyway?
Even if alcohol had absolutely zero effect on traffic fatalities, the data would not be much different from what they are. What reason is there to believe that the differences cannot be explained by factors unrelated to drivers with low-but-illegal BAC levels such as either (1) a driver had a BAC of 0.15 or higher, which I would stipulate should be basis for prosecution, or (2) a fatality was caused by the alcohol even though the intoxicated person wasn't driving (e.g. a drunk stumbles into the street and gets hit by a motorist).
I'm not saying that there's anything particularly wonderful or noble about someone driving home after having a beer, any more than there's anything noble about driving home after having done something really great or really stupid (and thinking about it on the way). Indeed, a person who has had one or two large beers and is mindful of the need to drive carefully is apt to be a safer driver than a sober motorist whose mind is on other things. So why is the former worthy of more condemnation than the latter?
"(1) a driver had a BAC of 0.15 or higher, which I would stipulate should be basis for prosecution, "
Tell that to the person that blew .123 and hurt me, the friend I was riding with and his girlfirend ( the passenger in his car. He was passed out....so much for your .15.
Can you show where eye color causes impairment in ability?
Your analogy fails there.
I agree that "alcohol related' leave a bit to be desired and that people like you can take issue with it. This is why I offer cut it into thirds.......how will you react then? Ignore it just like you do with the way stats are formed now. Thats how.