Iowa drivers, take heed this Fourth of July — it will take you about one less drink an hour to be considered intoxicated in the eyes of the law.

On Tuesday, the start of the state budget year, Iowa’s legal blood-alcohol level was dropped from .10 to .08.

Lawmakers made the right choice in reducing the state’s legal blood-alcohol level, even if they were just concerned about losing federal highway dollars.

Congress threatened three years ago to jerk $45.6 million in road money away from Iowa between 2004 and 2007 if Iowa did not change the state blood-alcohol level to .08.

Thirty-eight other U.S. states have already adopted the .08 limit.

Most importantly, the change in law will not only preserve Iowa’s federal highway dollars, but may also save lives on Iowa’s roadways by reducing the number of alcohol-related fatality accidents.

Hopefully, Iowans who have been drinking will think twice before turning the key in their ignition this Fourth of July weekend, which is notorious for drunken driving accidents.

The change in blood-alcohol level from .10 to .08 is equal to about four to five drinks per hour for a 170-pound man who has not had anything to eat.

It’s equal to about three drinks per hour for a 137-pound woman who is drinking on an empty stomach.

Obviously, drivers need to be conscientious of the new law before they get behind the wheel.

The only part of the of the new blood-alcohol level lawmakers botched was not extending the law to include Iowa’s boaters.

According to the Iowa Legislature, you are drunk if you are driving and blow .08 on the highway, but apparently, you’re not intoxicated if you blow .08 and you’re steering a boat on Lake Okoboji.

That just doesn’t add up.

The Legislature needs to extend the .08 blood-alcohol limit to include boaters, where alcohol consumption has resulted in accidents that are just as serious as those on the highway.

It’s as simple as this — drink responsibly if you plan to drink as part of your Fourth of July celebrations.

Ask any parent or friend who has lost a child or loved one in an alcohol-related accident, and they will tell you: It’s simply not worth the risk.

If you’re feeling buzzed at all, you are most likely impaired to drive, experts say.

With the legal blood-alcohol level at .08, it doesn’t take much.

Why risk a night in jail, more than $2,000 worth of fines, high-risk insurance and possibly taking your own life or another innocent motorist’s life?

Call a cab or a friend. It’s just not worth the consequences this holiday weekend.

Editorial Board: Nicole Paseka, Amy Schierbrock, Alicia Ebaugh, Ayrel Clark, Lucas Grundmeier