Drink Driving Limits Reviewed
The Government is considering reducing the maximum alcohol levels allowed for drivers.
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced during an informative breakfast that the move towards zero tolerance of drink driving is demanded by associations of victims of traffic accidents and the National Road Safety Council itself.
The maximum blood alcohol level currently allowed is 0.25 mg/l in exhaled air or 0.5 g/l in blood. In the case of professionals and new drivers it is 0.15 and 0.3, respectively.
The new proposal, which is to be brought to the Congress of Deputies as soon as possible, would be to reduce the maximum levels currently allowed by more than half. That is, up to 0.2 g/l in blood. This would be for all drivers, professionals and novices alike.
This would mean being on par with European countries such as Poland, Sweden and Estonia. The EU countries where no alcohol level is allowed are Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, although in the case of new drivers the rate is also 0.0 in Germany, Croatia or Italy.
This summer, the Traffic Department carried out a drink driving awareness campaign with the slogan that “the road does not care how much you have drunk” because “only zero has zero consequences”. The campaign showed that more than half of the accidents on the roads are associated with alcohol or drugs.
The proposed measures are a “commitment” of the department headed by Grande-Marlaska, who says that society is “mature” enough to address this debate. He also stressed that the Government knows it has to address the issue in order to reduce the number of accidents at the wheel.
Impact on Drivers
Under the new regulations, even a small amount of alcohol could put drivers over the legal limit. For instance, consuming just one small beer could result in a blood alcohol level of 0.2 grams per litre for an average adult. This means that drivers will need to be more cautious about their alcohol intake before getting behind the wheel.
Enforcement and Penalties
The enforcement of these new limits will be strict. Drivers caught with a blood alcohol level between 0.2 and 0.5 grams per litre will face fines and points deducted from their driving licenses. Levels above 0.5 grams per litre will incur even harsher penalties, including higher fines and potential imprisonment.
Increased Drink Driving Checks
The Executive’s roadmap to reduce road accidents also includes an increase in alcohol and drug tests. The aim is to reach six million alcohol tests on the roads and 120,000 for drugs.
Another measure that the Minister of the Interior has put on the table is more voluntary courses for drivers. These would cover efficient driving and road safety as well as “continuous” training. The voluntary courses would provide an opportunity to add complementary points on a driving licence.
Next Steps
The proposal is currently under review and will require parliamentary approval before it can be implemented. TOTN will keep you updated with the progress.
