Following an accident in which a drunk driver (45) without a valid licence crashed into a group of cyclists and killed two in Ghent on Sunday, Belgian authorities are looking into legislative proposals to punish persistent traffic offenders more severely.
In the Mobility Committee, Federal MP Jef Van den Bergh (CD&V) put two proposals on the table: one concerns linking people's driving licence data to ANPR cameras (registering number plates) to allow the police to carry out targeted checks on the validity of driving licences, and the other concerns bypassing the alcohol lock.
"Through the proposal, we are going to register recidivism. Those who repeatedly ignore the obligation of the 'alcolock' will risk an additional punishment from now on," Van den Bergh explained on Flemish radio on Tuesday.
He has been championing road safety for 20 years, as he did when he proposed the driving licence with points – which is not being introduced for the time being. "The perception is that it is a punitive measure, but it is not, it is a preventive measure. The aim is for people to become aware of it."
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While the perpetrator of the deadly accident in Ghent this weekend had a driving ban on two convictions for drink-driving, he had a registered and insured car.
"Insurance companies can look into your past accidents, but cannot check whether you have any legal convictions to your name," umbrella organisation Assuralia said. "An insurer does not have access to data on a criminal record, because of privacy reasons and all kinds of legal permissions."
The accident happened because the drunk driver lost control of the car after a driving error at far too high a speed. He crashed into the group of five cyclists, killing two of them and injuring the others, one of them severely. On Monday, the driver was arrested for accidental killing as well as unintentional assault and battery.
