Drink-driving accidents are significantly higher during the festive season compared to the rest of the year, according to findings released by road safety institute Vias today.
On an average day, 11% of road accidents are caused by drunk driving; this figure rises to 16% on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, this rises to 21% and even triples to 33% on New Year’s Day. The findings come after analysing accident figures from the past ten years.
Clearly, a notable group of drivers appears to be indifferent to the efforts of Belgium's BOB awareness campaign against drink-driving, Vias spokesperson Stef Willems laments. Drink-drivers involved in accidents that lead to injuries have on average a blood alcohol concentration of 1.7% (17 grams per litre). "That's not just one drink too many, but rather an entire bottle," Willems told Het Laatste Nieuws.
However, more people are coming to realise just how dangerous a combination alcohol and driving is. When at a social gathering, it is less common to receive disapproving looks when ordering a non-alcoholic drink and the availability of mocktails on menus and in supermarkets has never been greater.
