300,000 drink-drive checks this winter as Bob campaign begins

Belgium's winter anti-drink-driving campaign begins on Monday, with police aiming to carry out 300,000 on-the-spot checks.

The "Bob" campaign officially runs until 6 January, with billboard ads along all major roads.

But the drink-drive checks will be reinforced around Belgium until the end of January, the Belgian road safety institute Vias has warned.

A separate campaign will also encourage drivers to take part in the "weekend without alcohol" from 10-12 January.

According to Vias, in the last 10 years, the number of accidents involving a driver under the influence of alcohol has dropped by 20%.

However, there were still 4,000 driving accidents recorded in Belgium in 2018 involving the use of alcohol.

During last Christmas's Bob campaign, the number of drivers who were found to be over the drink-drive limit was below the 2% mark for the first time.

The campaign's organisers are hoping for a figure of just 1.6% this year.