Last year, 36,859 drivers were taken to court for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is a slight increase on last year, according to figures provided by the BPSM, the 'Permanent Bureau for Statistics and Mesures' and published in Mediahuis press. Some police courts say a stepping up of roadside checks is responsible for the increase, but others believe it is due to an increase in drug-taking. "I have come across many individuals who were under the influence of amphetamines and these people weren't just youths on their way home after a night out. Drug abuse among drivers can be found in the population of port workers, sales reps and even the top executives of large companies", the judge at the police court in Bruges explained.
(Source: Belga)
