BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING Published April 29, 2007 By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Air Force News Agency WASHINGTON (AFNA) -- WASHINGTON -- Despite recent reductions in fatalities, impaired driving remains one of America's deadliest social problems, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In their latest report on alcohol-related vehicle mishaps, NHTSA officials state that nearly 13,000 drivers or motorcycle operators died in crashes with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or above the illegal limit in all states over a one-year timeframe. "Most people don't intend to drive home drunk," officials said, "but too many find themselves at the end of the night without a sober designated driver." Unfortunately, many of these drivers convince themselves and friends that they are able to drive with the comment, "I'm OK; I'm just buzzed." That's why the NHTSA emphasizes that "buzzed driving is drunk driving." Administration officials say their goal is to convince drivers that "buzzed" means they are too impaired to drive, so they will have to give up the keys.