Last summer, 241 people lost their lives on Spanish roads, with alcohol or drugs playing a role in over half of these accidents.
To tackle this issue, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has announced plans to lower the blood alcohol limit for drivers from the current 0.5 grams per litre to 0.2 grams per litre. This proposal, put forward by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), also suggests reducing the limit for alcohol in breath tests from 0.25 to 0.10 milligrams per litre.
Currently, general drivers in Spain are allowed a maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.5 g/l, while novice and professional drivers must adhere to a stricter limit of 0.3 g/l. Although the minister did not provide specific details for these groups, it is expected that their permissible alcohol limits will also be reduced under the new measures.
Grande-Marlaska highlighted the urgent need for these changes, given that 241 people died on Spanish roads last summer, with more than half of these fatal accidents involving alcohol or drugs. While Spain’s accident rate is currently below the European Union average, the government aims to further reduce these figures and enhance road safety.
