From 1 June, the threshold for the immediate withdrawal of the driver’s license of drunk drivers will be lowered. The standard will then be lowered from 1.5 promille to 1.2 promille. Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) announced this in the Chamber on Wednesday.
During the weekly question hour, Minister Gilkinet was questioned by Wouter Raskin (N-VA) about road safety figures. Raskin called it “a drama”. He referred to the increase in the number of fatal accidents in 2022. The N-VA member especially wanted to know from Gilkinet whether he would make any adjustments to the Highway Code during this legislature.
The minister noted that the latest figures from Vias indicate a cautious decrease in the number of road deaths, although that is no reason to cheer. To tackle alcohol behind the wheel even more efficiently, Gilkinet, together with the ministers of Justice and the Interior, wants to lower the threshold for the immediate withdrawal of the driver’s license to 1.2 promille. “The new measure will come into effect on June 1.”
He also indicated that it is his ambition to amend the Highway Code, with a better balance on the road between active road users and motorists. And also to further step up the fight against recidivism. “We cannot tolerate disrespectful road pirates,” the minister emphasized.
0.5 promille
The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5 promille, which for most people corresponds to about two glasses of alcohol. Anyone stopped with more than 0.5 promille alcohol in the blood will in any case be banned from driving for 3 or 6 hours, depending on the alcohol percentage in the blood. In addition, a drunk driver also risks a fine.
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