At present, a driver is not administratively penalized if the blood alcohol concentration does not exceed 0.5. Given that the proportion of drinking drivers is high, Ģirģens is of the opinion that a car may only be driven if the concentration is 0.
“Alcohol and driving are not compatible! We see that the rules so far have not been justified, and the famous saying in society, “one [drink] will not do harm”, claims the lives of innocent people year after year, caused by driving under the influence of alcohol! At the moment, as a legislator, we have to demonstrate a strong backbone and follow the example of those countries where we should not drive under the influence of alcohol, even with the slightest concentration,” the Member said.
He said that the zero margin for all drivers already exists in a number of countries of the European Union, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria. Specialists acknowledge that even small alcohol use delays response and that the driver underestimates speed, distance and conditions on the road.
Last year there were 2,789 protocols issued for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The deputy has submitted the proposal to the responsible Saeima Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee or the draft law regarding amendments to the Road Traffic Law.
