The federal traffic police are launching a vast operation of alcohol tests on Belgian roads from 8 to 10 June, in collaboration with 122 local police zones, the competent authorities and partners. The operation will be conducted along highways as well as regional and district roads, the federal police said.
This new “weekend without drinking and driving” will start at 6 p.m. on Friday and end on Monday at 6.00 a.m. It will have a double focus on awareness building and repression.
“We hope road users will opt for the existing alternatives (sleeping over, taxis, public transport etc.) or will designate a non-drinking driver before going out so as to avoid taking the wheel under the influence of alcohol or other substances,” the police stressed. They hope in this way that opting for these alternatives will become part of the habits of drivers. They also intend, in this way, “to increase the risk for recalcitrant drivers of being tested”.
The last such campaign against drunk driving was in January this year. Of the 47,921 drivers tested, only 902 (1.88%) were under the influence of alcohol, down from 2.12% in the previous test, conducted in winter 2017.
The Brussels Times
