New Flemish end-of-year campaign warns of drink-driving dangers

Flemish mobility minister Annick De Ridder has during a police checkpoint in Antwerp kicked off a new end-of-year edition of the drink-driving awareness campaign “Groot gelijk dat je nuchter rijdt”, which can be translated as “You’re quite right to drive sober”. Although the figures around alcohol consumption in traffic are moving in the right direction, much work remains to be done.

In August, the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Studies (VSV) surveyed 600 Flemish motorists aged between 18 and 54 about their attitude concerning alcohol consumption in traffic. 15 per cent said they never drink alcohol anyway and 40 per cent said they never drink when they have to drive. 39 per cent said they limit their consumption to one or two glasses, hoping to stay under the legal limit. A small minority of 6 per cent said they do not pay attention to the limit or the number of glasses.

“While these are encouraging figures, some car drivers remain stubborn in their behaviour of getting behind the wheel after they had a glass too many,” declared minister De Ridder. “Especially during this end-of-year period full of parties and receptions. Drinking and driving just don't go together. You put not only yourself, but also those around you in danger. That's why actions like this are very important.”

A new edition of the campaign will be featured on posters along main roads, in a campaign video on social media and on numerous banners and posters that people can also download on the website veiligverkeer.be. As always, the various police forces will also intensify checks during the end-of-year period.

Additional campaign on drug use

VSV is also launching an additional campaign in December, specifically on drug use in traffic. That continues to cause concern, often in combination with alcohol consumption. The share of detections for drugs by the police is also rising compared to those for alcohol. In 2015, 13 per cent of all detections involved drugs, by 2023 that share had doubled to 26 per cent. Although it must also be said that detection of drug use has been simplified and saliva tests are happening more systematically in accidents.

“Research indicates that precisely these combinations lead to an extremely increased risk in traffic,” said De Ridder. “The chance of being seriously injured or killed in an accident is then up to 200 times higher than under normal circumstances. A minority thus causes excessive risks to themselves and others. Campaigns and enforcement actions around this issue are therefore vital.”

^{#FlandersNewsService | A police officer uses a breathalyser to check whether a driver has been drinking © BELGA PHOTO HMBxMedia/xHeikoxBecker/IMAGO}