According to a survey, one in two motorists admit to having driven under the influence of alcohol. In addition, 54% of respondents drive without fear of being checked.
To avoid accidents, drink or drive, you have to choose! This famous slogan of Road Safety has obviously been forgotten by a number of French motorists. With the approach of the great departures on vacation, the Automobile Club Association (Aca) and the Argus publish on June 27 the results of their survey on “Motorists and alcohol controls”. And the results are cause for concern for regular drivers.
The Aca and Argus interviewed their respective members and subscribers with an e-questionnaire. In total, 6,566 people responded between June 17 and 19, 2013. On the one hand, 1 motorist in 2 (48.72%) admits having already driven under the influence of alcohol. On the other hand, more than a quarter of drivers have never been the subject of a preventive blood alcohol test. And, for the 74% who have already been checked, it took place (at 75%) more than 2 years ago (between 2 and 10 years).
Moreover, the feeling of impunity seems to largely explain the reasons for which the French are not afraid to mix alcohol and driving. More than 1 driver in 2 (54%) indeed considers “very unlikely” or “unlikely” the possibility of being tested for blood alcohol level. And obviously this perception is not that far from reality.
With 565 billion kilometers traveled each year, French motorists have an average probability of being preventively tested for alcohol levels every 62,800 km, or once every 5 years for a driver traveling an average of 13,000 km per year. “Although subject to strong variations depending on the profession of the driver, the type of vehicle and its use, this probability reveals the low risk for a motorist to be checked for blood alcohol”, indicates the Aca.
Finally, the French nevertheless want change and seem to have a strong desire to get involved in improving road safety. 9 out of 10 drivers are in this regard in favor of the obligation of an alcohol ignition interlock device (Ead) for drivers of passenger transport, commercial vehicles or for people already convicted.
Nearly 1 in 2 motorists are in favor of making the EAD more general for all drivers. Despite these verbal commitments, alcohol is still the leading cause of driving fatalities. In 2011, alcohol killed 1,150 people on French roads, according to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory.
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