Belgium enforces tougher drink driving rules

New stricter national drink driving regulations have been introduced to harmonise rules and further deter motorists from driving under the influence.

Previously, national regulations stipulated an immediate license suspension for 15 days for drivers with a blood alcohol content of 1.15mg/l or higher. This threshold has now been lowered to 0.8mg across Belgium, reports RTBF.

Introduced by justice minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) this week, the new rule is valid immediately for the entire country. The debate began when it became apparent that prosecutors were applying different approaches across the country.

Public prosecution offices in Limburg, Antwerp and Flemish Brabant had already taken the initiative of revoking the licenses of offenders with a blood alcohol content of 0.8mg/l or higher. Meanwhile, prosecutors’ offices in East Flanders, West Flanders and Wallonia did not follow this rule.

The minister therefore decided to harmonise the penalty. In addition, driving licences will be revoked for blood alcohol levels of 0.35mg/l or higher, compared to 0.50mg/l previously. 

“This stricter approach, which will be applied in strict accordance with existing legislation, sends an unequivocal message: these dangerous driving behaviors will no longer be tolerated,” Verlinden warned.

Furthermore, the duration of temporary driving licence suspension for all offenses will eventually be standardised at 12 hours. This period currently varies between two, three, six or 12 hours, depending on the offence and the circumstances. 

Regarding the use of drugs when driving, ketamine will soon be added to the list of illicit substances detectable by saliva test.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs remains a recurring cause of road fatalities. The minister notes, however, that social tolerance towards driving under the influence remains too high, despite decades of awareness campaigns.

“That is why the directives issued to the police and prosecutors are being strengthened, and all relevant circulars are being adapted, in order to standardise the application of this stricter policy across the country,” she concluded.