Every year, New Year’s Eve turns out to be sadly deadly. Faithful to its awareness campaigns, the Road Safety Association warns of the risks of drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve. And remember that there are no good solutions or miracle tips for getting back on the road while having a blood alcohol level above the authorized thresholds. To avoid tragic accidents, she recommends anticipating and planning alternative solutions.
Driving slowly, drinking water or sucking a mint candy… So many “bad solutions” considered again this year by more than seven out of ten French people (71%) to return home by road after drinking the night of New Year, Road Prevention warned on Thursday. “ Sleeping there is by far the best solution, as long as you get a real night’s sleep. », insisted the general delegate of the association, Anne Lavaud, at a press conference. Road Prevention, whose mission is to reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents, presented the 14e edition of its awareness campaign “ Good return » for New Year’s Eve 2024.
“ Scoop: taking the back roads has never lowered blood alcohol levels », launched Anne Lavaud ironically. Another unsuitable solution: limiting alcohol consumption. “ The French do not know how to estimate their consumption (…), the doses of official alcohol served in bars and restaurants have absolutely nothing to do with the doses served at home. »
The roads are dangerous on New Year’s Eve
The barometer The French, New Year’s Eve and drunk driving » has changed little, compared to those of previous years. The average consumption in terms of number of glasses that those surveyed plan to drink on New Year’s Eve has decreased slightly, from 3.5 in 2022 to 3.3 in 2023. Developments are weak », recognizes Ms. Lavaud.
In France, the legal blood alcohol level for people with a driving license (outside the probationary period) is 0.5 g/l of blood. On average, it drops by 0.1 g/l of blood per hour, according to the government Road Safety website. The association, which primarily recommends sleeping on site before hitting the road again, also recommends appointing an “evening captain” (who does not drink and will accompany drinkers), testing your blood alcohol level with a breathalyzer or even returning by public transport.
Drunk driving represents 30% of road deaths in 2023. 71% of these deaths occur at night. “ The return of New Year’s Eve is dangerous », asserts the president of Road Prevention Patrick Dixneuf, calling for anticipation of the risk. On average, over the last five years (excluding the Covid period), “ 18 people died on the roads during the New Year weekend », according to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory.
