Question by Bogusław Sonik on Disparities in driver blood-alcohol limits in EU member states

Answer to oral question - Disparities in driver blood-alcohol limits in EU member states Question by Bogusław Sonik

20 November 2008 EP plenary session in Strasbourg

In many Member States – for example, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland and Luxembourg – the limit on the amount of alcohol that anyone driving a vehicle may have in their blood has been set at 0.8 mg/l. In Slovakia and Hungary, which do not allow anyone who has consumed even the smallest amount of alcohol to drive, any driver with that amount of alcohol in their blood would be committing a serious offence. The rules governing the driving of vehicles, as laid down in the Polish Road Traffic Act of 20 June 1997 (Official Journal No 108, 2005, Item 908, as subsequently amended), set the permissible blood alcohol level at 0.2 mg/l. Driving with a blood‑alcohol level of more than 0.5 mg/l is a criminal offence subject to imprisonment for up to two years.

Given the current trend towards the standardisation of road traffic legislation within the EU, does the Commission intend to take steps to standardise permissible blood-alcohol levels for drivers in the EU Member States?

Response from Commissioner Antonio Tajani

Commissioner Tajani explained that in his opinion, new drivers tend to be the victims of road accidents. For this reason, a blood limit of not above 0.2 is recommended for this category of drivers. However, the European commisison does not feel that the political conditions exist to further harmonise the blood levels within the union. In spite of this, the commission wants to be active in this area, and the commissioner would like to see more road checks.

A directive is under discussion in the council. Non use of seatbelt and driving under influence of drugs are in this directive.

Bogusław Sonik MEP said that the commission could be bolder. We need a new directive with a ban for those who drive under influence of alcohol. We must not bow to the alcohol lobby. We have a right to have safety on the road.

Jörg Leichtfried MEP asked where the obstacles are? With lobbyists or member states? Also, what about smoking, studies show that this fatigues drivers?

Colm Burke MEP said that we need a programme to educate young people about driving.
Antonio Tajani firmly stated that road safety is one of his priorities, and this includes distributing information. We need young role models for this; it is no good for older drivers telling younger ones how to drive. He is not sure about smoking, but will ask the appropriate services to look into this.