The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced yesterday that the Government has begun the parliamentary procedure to approve tightening the alcohol limits on drink driving.

He said that Spanish society is mature enough to accept this change, which entails lowering the limit from 0.5 grams per litre of alcohol in the blood to just 0.2 grams.

Apparently, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), proposed this change, which would entail amending Article 20 of the Spanish Highway Code and would bring Spain in line with Sweden.

Minister Grande-Marlaska said that so far this year, 241 people had died this summer on the roads, “Over half of the accidents involved alcohol or drug consumption,” he pointed out. For this reason he believes such a measure should be debated in Parliament.

He also commented on the shrinking number of road accidents since the driving-licence, point system was introduced, which stands presently at 36 deaths per one million inhabitants. The average in the rest of the EU stands at 47 deaths per 1m.

He concluded by saying that Spain’s goal is to reach the low-level of road deaths that exist in Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

(News: Spain)

Tags: DGT, Alcohol, Drugs, DUI, Limit, Blood, Maximum Level, Ministry of the Interior, Grande Marlaska