Some policy analysts note a disturbing tendency among lawmakers and officials to rush to enact new statutes and regulations following a high-profile occurrence -- whether it is a minor incident affecting a few or a tragedy. For example, following the death of Britain's Princess Diana, calls are now being heard on Capitol Hill to force states to lower the blood-alcohol level at which a driver would be deemed legally drunk.

States now set such levels and, critics contend, there is no need for federal action. Moreover, deaths attributable to drunken drivers continue to decline sharply in the U.S.

• Over the past 15 years, the proportion of deaths involving drunken drivers has fallen from nearly 57 percent of all crash deaths to 41 percent last year.

• Less than one-third of drivers in fatal crashes last year were legally drunk, compared to just over 46 percent in 1982.

• Deaths involving drunken drivers are down 26 percent over the period, while deaths involving strictly sober drivers have climbed nearly 47 percent.

Current proposals seek adoption of a blood-alcohol standard of 0.08 percent nationwide -- the existing standard in 15 states. Most states have set the limit at 0.10 percent. States which failed to adopt the 0.08 percent level within three years would at first be denied 5 percent of their federal highway funds -- 10 percent thereafter.