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Home Valencia News and Features Trafico toughens up on drink driving in the whole of Spain

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Trafico toughens up on drink driving in the whole of Spain

25 July 2009

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Trafico (de la Guardia Civil) made more than 300,000 breath tests over fifteen days this month.

Officials of the Traffic Group of the Gaurdia Civil (Trafico) carried out over 300,000 checks breath, in 800 different locations. This decision forms part of a campaign by the DGT to address "the main problem of road safety in Spain and Europe: alcohol," as stated in a press conference the director general de Tráfico, Pere Navarro. 31% of drivers killed in 2008 was under the influence of alcohol.

More than 19,000 drivers have been arrested in the past 12 months and 1,250 people are in jail for repeated consumption of alcoholic drinks and then sitting at the wheel, figures that the DGT use to combat drink driving this summer through various control and awareness campaigns. The checks are now conducted at night and at noon in order to discourage the consumption of alcoholic beverages during meals. In this case, Navarro has said that the DGT is concerned about the late drinking and noted that last summer, there were more fatalities in the evening than the night.

In addition, to raise awareness among drivers, 122 volunteers from the Association of spinal cord injuries (ASPAYM) accompany the Civil Guard officers in some controls to explain to drivers the consequences of drinking before getting in the car. "We would not like having only one partner or more from this scourge" ', said the association's president, Alberto Pinto, who has indicated that the rate of alcohol for those driving should be ZERO and noted that the aim of the volunteers in the controls is trying to demonstrate that accidents are preventable in a high percentage of cases. Alcohol is THE major possibility of having an accident, Navarro said that also not wearing a seat belt and continuing to consume alcohol, which is also a risk and which does not respect the standards laid down. He has stated that 31% of drivers killed in 2008 had rates of blood alcohol above 0.3 g / l. Overall, alcohol was present as a concurrent factor or trigger in one third of the 1,929 fatal accidents which occurred on highways, so that, according to the DGT, with the absence of alcohol they could have prevented the deaths of 700 people.

The rate of positive blood alcohol controls has been reduced from 3.9% in 2003 to 1.85% in 2008, whilst the number of preventive controls (Roadside Checks) rose from 2 million in 2003 to more than 5 million in the year past. Campaigns road checks will be accompanied by two awareness campaigns: one's own DGT, through radio and television, and another of Brewers of Spain, in collaboration with 14 institutions. Under the motto The road asks SIN, remember this campaign throughout the summer that "alcohol and driving are incompatible, as indicated by the Spanish president of Brewers, Jacobo Olalla, who pointed out that 15% of all beer consumed in Spain was of no alcohol kind. "Much remains to be done".

Guide2Valencia comment

The campaign seems to be continuing as we have seen many road blocked during our visits to many places in the lasrt week. Two road blocks were seen in Montserrat alone this week, but in different directions.

One reader near Turis has been stopped three times. The last time he was behind a white van, which they usually pull in first. This time they waved the white van through and stoopped our reader. This reader now carries all his papers with him to make life easier and he doesn't drink whilst driving.

What a change we have seen in 7.5 years. Perhaps the Guardia has seen the huge opportunity for a lot of extra revenue? The UK police saw this 30 years ago, so it's not suoprising that Spain is suddenly catching up.

Have you any stories to tell about road blocks and the police? Email us on our feedback email!

Also see our news item of 13th July.