The authorities this week launched the new Bob campaignthe one that will accompany us during the end-of-year holidays. This is obviously always an opportunity to remember that, during this period, the controls will be reinforced and it is better to take precautions. Either by staying put, or by designating a Bob, or by simply not consuming.
Last year, the Belgian police delivered 46,712 verbalizations for excessive consumption drunk driving. But what does this figure represent? In reality, it’s a lot. Far too many even if we compare to our French neighbors where 168,520 fines were issued, but for 6 times more inhabitants (68.2 million compared to 11 million here). Belgium therefore has proportionally more offenses.
Not very reliable data
If in France, the positivity rate reaches 3.3%, it is much more difficult to determine in Belgium, due to a lack of reliable statistics which run throughout the year. However, one circular from the attorneys general does provide for the recording of alcohol tests, but it does not seem to be followed by all services, except during the Bob campaigns, therefore in the months of December and January or during the summer months when campaigns also take place. The authorities noted an overall rate of 1.15% across the entire territory for the winter campaign, but 2.24% during the summer campaign…
VIAS also denounces this laxity of the police. In the absence of continuous and reliable data, it is therefore difficult to establish a reliable card. The only complete indications come from offenses related to alcohol levels. We can therefore know the results of each province by bringing the number of fines relating to blood alcohol per 1,000 inhabitants. And there comes the surprise, with very large disparities between countries.
Advertisement – continue reading below
Differences between provinces
Indeed, we see that the province of Luxembourg reached the ratio of 8.3 fines per 1,000 inhabitants and the province of Hainaut that of 5.9. In the province of Namurthe result is 4.9, in Walloon Brabant from 4.7 and Liège of 4.6.
On the Flemish side, things seem much calmer – or controlled – since only the province of Limburg slips a little with a ratio of 4.6. On the other hand, in East Flanders, western and to Antwerpthe averages drop significantly with respectively 3.7, 3.2 and 3.3 fines per 1,000 inhabitants. THE Flemish Brabant is 3.2 and Bruxelles to 3.0.
Of course, this result depends on the frequency of checks and we know that they are more numerous in the province of Luxembourg. That said, it is doubtful that the Flemish police are lax, especially since the population density is significantly higher. Everything therefore suggests that the Flemish remains more reasonable.
Looking for a car? Search, find and buy the best model on Gocar.be
Related News :