Brussels, 25/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Although drink-driving is one of the main causes of road accidents, Siim Kallas has promised not to impose a European limit on the quantity of blood alcohol content (BAC) when driving. Nonetheless, he emphasised to member states that they themselves should set this limit at 0.5 mg or even below.
Responsibility at national level. During a seminar on drink-driving organised by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) on Tuesday 24 April, the European commissioner for transport stated: “It should be up to individual member states to choose the BAC limit for their own territory. National cultures differ too much to have a pan-European limit... So I do not intend to make any legal proposal in this area during the mandate of this Commission.”
More controls. Siim Kallas is, however, well aware that this bad habit is one of the main causes of road accidents in Europe. The ETSC estimates that 6,500 accidents could have been avoided in 2010 if all drivers had complied with national legislation on drink-driving. “Rules only work when they are enforced, and that means constant checks and controls on the roads. That said, preventative measures are not a substitute for enforcement, but go hand-in-hand with enforcement - and vice versa.” The commissioner is therefore “writing to our member states to request more information on their national enforcement plans, to get a better picture of what is actually happening on the ground and to find out what initiatives they are planning.”
Alcohol interlock devices (alcolocks). He also intends to further scrutinise the different tests carried out with alcohol interlock devices. These breathalysers are located in vehicles and prevent the vehicle from starting if the test proves positive. This year, a study will verify the cost/benefit advantage if this system is made compulsory in Europe. Finland has already introduced legislation on the matter and has already fitted these devices on school buses. (MD/transl.fl)