Although awareness of drunk driving has improved over the last several decades, far too many pay the price in the form of serious injuries or even lost life every single year. Blood alcohol content laws are on the books in every state and police officers frequently pursue those accused of drunk driving both promptly and zealously.

But some researchers say that current efforts and laws don’t go far enough, endangering the public. Since drunk drivers are not always easy to identify on the road, many who suffer in an accident discover this fact too late.

Researchers now believe that making BAC laws stricter would cut down on the injuries and fatalities tied to drunk driving. The study, published in an industry journal, says that blood alcohol content allowances should be dropped from the popular .08 percent down to .05 percent. This would both hold those above the limit accountable while also discouraging people from drinking too much before getting behind the wheel.

Likely to raise concerns about lobbyists and even the public if pushed forward, the researchers behind the study say it may be the only way to put a real dent in the number of accidents connected with drunk driving.

Drunk driving and “buzzed” driving can reduce the driver’s control over the vehicle and impair the driver’s faculties enough to cause an accident. Drivers sharing the road with someone under the influence might not even realize the danger until an accident happens.

In many drunk driving accidents, the driver who caused the wreck might walk away with minor cuts and bruises whereas the other victims sustain catastrophic injuries and property damage. The only resource available to those injured in such an accident is to pursue an injury claim. Even with proper medical care, someone who suffers in such an accident may never live a normal life again and could be looking at years of treatments and pain.