From “it is not contemplated for everyone” to extending it to all drivers: the Ministry of the Interior, on which the DGTassures that he will promote a reform to lower the blood alcohol level behind the wheel. Specifically the current ones 0.5 grams per liter of alcohol in the blood to 0.2 grams.
This was announced today by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior, in his appearance at the ‘New Economy Forum’“We are working on it seriously.”
From 0.25 mg/l to 0.10 mg/l: lower than that for beginners and professionals
The Government has been engaged in a reform of the General Traffic Regulations, whose draft began its hearing phase in June. Among other measures, the one included lower the alcohol rate to new and professional drivers, two groups that already have a lower limit than the rest.
But in this new appearance, it is on the table to extend this reduction to the general rate. Although Grande-Marlaska has not mentioned specific figures for this new rate, Ministry sources have confirmed to Europa Press that the idea is extend to all drivers the rates proposed for novices and professionals.
Source: DGT
Lower than the current one for beginners and professionals. At the moment, the maximum permitted alcohol rate is 0.5 grams of alcohol in the blood and 0.25 milligrams of exhaled air. The new rates proposed are 0.2 grams of alcohol in the blood and 0.10 milligrams of exhaled airBoth would be even lower than those already reduced to the two aforementioned groups: 0.3 g/l and 0.15 mg/l respectively.
The minister points out that they are “working seriously” on this change and that it is “the Government’s commitment to address this debate because it seems very important to us”, in addition to arguing that “Spanish society is mature” to assume this change. Various road safety associations have also urged the Government to reduce the rate in general.
This change would modify Article 20 of the Traffic Regulationswhich is where these rates are specified. In any case, the draft with this and other modifications, such as the one prohibiting driving with flip-flops on a motorcycle, is still being studied and prepared.
Grande-Marlaska points out that alcohol continues to be a recurring cause of fatal accidents, being present in a third of these accidents. For this reason, the DGT has also significantly increased the number of alcohol and drug tests, which according to the minister will exceed 6.0 million and 120,000 respectively this year.
1,000 euro fine and six points on your licence, with a fee that now does not imply a positive result. In any case, if this change is applied, the new rates would have to be detailed more specifically, since the fines and the deduction of points vary depending on the rate from the maximum allowed.
For example, in the case of the expired air limit of 0.25 mg/l, if the test is positive between 0.26 mg/l and 0.50 mg/l, the fine is 500 euros with four points deducted. And when the limit is double (more than 0.50 mg/l), the fine increases to 1,000 euros and six points on the licence.
If the new limit is imposed in 0.10 mg/l, double would be 0.20 mg/l what it means maximum administrative sanction for a rate that now does not imply testing positive. Likewise, when would it become a crime: extrapolating and taking into account that now it is from 0.60 mg/l (or 1.2 g/l of alcohol in the blood) we would be talking about when it exceeds 0.30 mg/l.
Possible 0.0 rate for newbies? Spain has the same rate as other European countries such as France or Germany: 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood. However, there are other EU countries such as Sweden, Poland or Estonia where the maximum alcohol rate is precisely 0.2 g/l.
There are also those where the rate is 0.0. This is the case in Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic or Romania. Moreover, the European Executive is also considering a 0.0 rate for new drivers: given that Spain is now considering lowering the general rate, it could well be reduced to zero for this group.
Photo: Ministry of the Interior/Flickr
Source: www.motorpasion.com
