Estonia, Legislation, Transport

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 07:16

Estonian police increases control of drunk drivers

Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 04.06.2012.Print version
The Estonian police announced on Monday that starting today till the Midsummer's Day, it would hold frequent police operations to test the sobriety of drivers and calls for straightforward condemnation of drunk driving, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

In 2012 (till June), 42 people have died in traffic in Estonia, 8 of them because of a drunk driver. 592 people have been injured in traffic, 49 of them because of a drunk driver. Last year, 29% of traffic accidents were caused by alcohol, the Police and Border Guard Board said.

 

The police recommend that people keep a breathalyser in car and use it boldly and without shame to be fully convinced that they can drive. Also, due to the abundance of summer events and the habit of organizers to offer alcohol there, organizers of such events could enable people to check their alcohol level when they leave the event, said law enforcement police department commissar Riho Tänak.

 

"Should someone overestimate their abilities and want to drive while having consumed alcohol, the obligation of all people present is to hinder him and if that does not help, call the police," said Tänak.

 

In the first five months of the year, the Estonian police caught 3,197 drunk drivers; 1,704 have been fined, 44 have been prescribed an arrest and 740 have lost their driving rights.






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