A glass of alcohol beside automobile keys as Spain strikes to tighten drink-driving legal guidelines and Portugal considers related reforms.
Credit score : Shutterstock, Dan Kosmayer
Spain is on observe to introduce stricter alcohol limits for drivers after parliament backed a proposal to cut back the blood alcohol restrict to 0.2 grams per litre.
The transfer would apply to all drivers, scrapping the present system which permits 0.5 grams per litre for many motorists and 0.3 grams for these in professions like bus and lorry driving.
Spain pushes for a harder stance on drink-driving
The invoice, pushed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Occasion (PSOE), handed its first parliamentary hurdle with 177 votes in favour, whereas Vox MPs voted in opposition to and the Widespread Occasion selected to abstain.
The proposal will now transfer to the committee stage, the place it might face tweaks and amendments earlier than returning to parliament for a ultimate vote. For now, there’s no set timeline for when these modifications might come into drive.
Spain strikes to cease drivers sharing checkpoint data
Alongside reducing the authorized alcohol restrict, the draft legislation would additionally ban the sharing of details about police alcohol checkpoints. This targets ‘organised teams’ that warn drivers by way of social media or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram concerning the whereabouts of roadside checks.
Authorities imagine these digital warnings undermine efforts to curb drink-driving and scale back street deaths.
Portugal considers related drink-driving legislation
Portugal is now weighing whether or not to comply with Spain’s lead. Joana Teixeira, president of the Portuguese Society of Alcoholism (SPA), mentioned the Spanish initiative might encourage the same shift in Portugal.
Talking to native media, Teixeira defined that lowering the restrict to 0.2 grams per litre would have a big influence on drivers’ consciousness behind the wheel in comparison with the present 0.5-gram restrict.
“Decrease alcohol ranges dramatically scale back response occasions and notion,” Teixeira added, urging Portuguese lawmakers to contemplate adopting stricter controls.
Whereas no official proposal has but been tabled in Portugal, the controversy is heating up as policymakers and campaigners hold a detailed eye on developments throughout the border.
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