Drivers aged 40 to 54 are more likely to be caught driving under the influence of alcohol than their older and younger counterparts, according to a new study by Belgian traffic institute Vias.
The study, released on Friday, revealed a slight decrease in the number of drivers testing positive for alcohol in Belgium. Currently, 1 in 70 drivers - about 1.4% - are found to have consumed more alcohol than legally allowed.
This marks a small improvement from 2021, when the figure was 1.6%.
Most offenders registered blood alcohol levels above 0.8‰, equivalent to at least five to six drinks for an average man or three to four for an average woman.
Drivers in Wallonia are more likely to break the rules than those in Flanders. In Wallonia, 2% of drivers were caught, compared to just 0.8% in Flanders. The figure in Wallonia has worsened over time, rising from 1.4% in 2018 to 1.9% in 2021. Flanders, on the other hand, has seen a steady decline.
Additionally, average blood alcohol levels among offenders are higher in Wallonia than in Flanders.
Interestingly, persons aged 40 to 54 are the most frequent offenders, with 1.8% testing positive. Drivers under the age of 24 and those aged 65 and above each recorded a much lower rate of 1.1%.
As expected, offences are far more common during weekends than on weekdays. During weekend nights, as many as 7.2% of drivers are caught drink-driving.
The study underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling drink-driving in Belgium, with regional disparities and middle-aged drivers emerging as key focus areas.
