Drink Driving Campaign for Christmas

The Trafico Department of the Civil Guard has released plans to carry out more than 300,000 breathalyser tests on Spanish roads up until the 20th of December, which is intended to serve as a deterrent to those indulging in boozy Christmas lunches in the run up to the Festive period.

It is expected that 20,000 such tests will be taken every day at an estimated 1,000 points on the road network

Research undertaken by the Spanish Ministry of Transport reveals that alcohol increases the chance of being involved in an accident nine fold and remind drivers that drinking causes emotional excitability, a lack of mental sharpness and judgement, sensations of euphoria, and a loss of precise controls of movements as well as difficulties in focussing.

The campaign also calls on local Town Halls representing 25,000 inhabitants or more to set up their own local controls, and they have also made a similar call to the Cataluña and Basque Country regions where responsibility for road safety has been transferred to the regional governments.

The last concerted Drink Driving campaign was back in July of this year when approx 3% of all Drivers stopped tested positive – however, motorists need to be reminded that over 30% of the drivers who died on the roads this time last year had a Blood- alcohol level in excess of 0.3 grams per litre.