2,600 drivers breathalysed in nationwide operation

More than 2,600 drivers were breathalysed on Belgian motorways during an operation conducted by the federal traffic police from Saturday night to Sunday morning. A total of 98 people, or 3.6%, were above the legal limit, the federal police said yesterday. The results are consistent with previous operations, according to the police spokesman. Forty drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.5 to 0.8‰, had their licence confiscated for three hours. Forty-five had with a level of 0.8 to 1.5‰ had it revoked for three hours. Finally, 13 licences were confiscated for a period of fifteen days, their owners having been caught with an alcohol level of over 1.5‰. Federal traffic police conducted the tests on all motorways in the country under the Naway scheme, which targets road users driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In total, 218 people were killed on motorways and major roads in Belgium in 2012 as a result of driving under the influence, the federal police said in a statement.