Alcohol 2015

About 25% of all road fatalities in Europe are alcohol-related whereas about only 1,6% of all kilometres driven in Europe are driven by drivers with 0,5 g/l alcohol or more in their blood. As Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the driver increases, the relative crash risk also increases. The increase in relative crash risk accompanying increasing BAC is progressive. Compared to a sober driver, the relative crash risk of a driver with a BAC of 0,8 g/l (still below the legal limit in 2 of the EU Member States) is 2,7 times that of sober drivers. A driver with a BAC of 1,5 g/l has a relative crash risk 22 times that of a sober driver. Not only does the relative crash risk grow rapidly with increasing BAC, but crashes also become more severe. With a BAC of 1,5 g/l the relative risk of a fatal crash is about 200 times larger than for sober drivers.
The problem of drink driving is not new and many measures have already been introduced. A very successful measure was the introduction of breath testing devices by the police in the 1970s. However, despite the fact that drink drivers know that they can be caught and that sanctions are tough, and despite considerable change in public opinion regarding drink-driving (most people in Europe nowadays wholeheartedly disapprove of drinking and driving), alcohol-impaired road users are still involved in about a quarter of all fatal crashes in Europe. New and more effective measures are needed.