ROMANIA
ARGES COUNTY
COUNCIL
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
– A CAUSE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS
AER – Committee 2 – Alcohol Working Group - 24th October 2007, Terceira, Portugal
e. Total number of roads 319, with an overall length of 3025 km:
• 12 state roads, with a total length of 570 km
• 56 regional roads, with a total length of 1140 km • 251 country roads, with a total length of 1315 km
f. Characteristics:
• In this region, the main traffic flows are from South to North and from East to West
• 75% of the roads pass through city centers • The number of cars increased by 25% during
2007
• Traffic increased by 60% due to the modernisation of two important state roads linking the South and the North of the country
Collecting Biological Samples for Alcohol Tests
(according to Traffic Law)
Biological samples are collected in certified ambulatory units or in forensic institutes.
Biological samples are only collected in the presence of a police officer. In order to estimate alcohol levels, two different biological samples are collected with a time interval of one hour between the samples.
The second blood sample aims at calculating as precisely as possible the levels of alcohol concentration in the blood at the moment of the
accident.
In case the person refuses to give a second biological sample, the
alcohol level is not calculated retroactively. The refusal is registered in the collection report.
2. Driving a car or a tram on public roads while having an alcohol concentration level of more than 0,80 mg/L is punished by imprisonment for 1 to 5 years.
If the person in question is:
- a public transport driver on duty,
- carrying hazardous goods or materials, - a driving instructor,
the punishment is imprisonment for 2 to 7 years (art. 87 of the Traffic Code)
Legal Provisions - Traffic Code (Law N. 49 /2006) About drink driving -
• 1. Drink driving is an offence and is punished by losing 9 to 20 points and the suspension of the driving license for 90 days.
•
A person suspected of driving under the influence of
alcohol is subjected to an alcohol test: the test consists of
breathing into a certified or probated technical device. (art.
185 of the Traffic Law)
4. Car or tram drivers are subjected to compulsory biological
sample collections to estimate their alcohol concentration
levels when:
• The first alcohol test indicates a 0,40 mg/L alcohol rate in
the breath
• The car or animal-towed vehicle driver has had an accident
causing injuries or the death of one or more people.
• The vehicle driver is transporting hazardous goods or
Alcohol Tests
Year 2006
Total of 838 tests, submitted to:
• 94% men amongst whom:
- 95,5% had an alcohol level < 0,80 mg/lL
- 4,5% had an alcohol level > 0,80 mg/l
• 6% of women amongst whom:
- 100% had an alcohol level < 0,80 mg/l
Year 2007 - 8 months Total of 586 tests, submitted to:
• 96% men amongst whom:
- 97,5% had an alcohol level < 0,80 mg/l - 2,5% had an alcohol level > 0,80 mg/l
• 4,4% women amongst whom:
- 95,5% had an alcohol level < 0,80 mg/l - 4,5% had an alcohol level > 0,80 mg/l
Total of 838 tests to:
•
456 ( 54% ) = drivers
•
170 ( 20% ) = bikers
•
215 ( 26% ) = pedestrians + cart drivers
Year 2006
54% 20%
Year 2007 - 8 months
Total of 586 tests, submitted to:
•
157 ( 27% ) = Drivers
•
205 ( 35% ) = bikers
•
224 ( 38% ) = pedestrians + cart drivers
27%
35% 38%
Road accidents
– caused by alcohol
2006 2007 - 8 months 1. Overall number of road accidents
(cause: traffic code infractions, lack of attention,
speeding, alcohol consumption) 1589 793
2. Overall number of road accidents linked to
alcohol consumption 418 238
• Light road accidents
(material damages + flesh wounds) 391 218 • Severe road accidents
(material damages + severe wounds) 27 20 • Deaths 2 1
Healthcare costs of
road accidents caused
by alcohol
a. 2006: - 30 100 TWI days worth 1 655 500 euros
b. 2007 (8 months): - 17 173 TWI days worth 945 516 euros TWI = Temporary Work Incapacity (days in hospital and home care)
Remarks &
conclusions
a. The majority of road accidents caused by alcohol occur: – At the end of the week (on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) – On religious holidays or during weekly fairs
b. The majority of road accidents caused by alcohol occur between 06:00 pm and 06:00 am
c. For cyclists, pedestrians and cart drivers, road accidents are also linked to the following factors (besides alcohol):
• Lack of obedience of traffic rules • Walking on the roadway
• No indication of their presence on the roadway • No use of reflective vests
Measures
implemented at the
national level
• Modification of the Traffic Code, with
tougher punishments;
• Patrol vehicles for the county police;
• Increase in the number of traffic
surveillance and control teams;
• Media campaigns under the ‘Stop
Alcohol’ programme;
• Tax increase for alcohol drinks;
• Building new roads to by-pass urban
Measures proposed at the
regional level
a. Introduction of alcohol-related themes in education programmes, as part of the civic education courses
Partners: Arges County Council, Arges Education Inspection
b. Awareness-raising campaign for citizens about the risks of drink driving for public safety
Partners: Arges County Council, Regional Police, local NGOs c. Modernisation of regional road equipment
• improving road markings and road signs
• Building and repairing cycling lanes and sidewalks in rural areas Partners: Arges County Council, Local Councils
