Breathalyzer Tests Now Required On all Vehicles In France
In France all vehicles must now carry a chemical or electronic breathalyzer. Officials are hoping this would help reduce drinking and driving.
Authorities say that alcohol has been the main cause of mortality on roads. It seems about a third of fatalities on French roads is due to drink driving, a rate that far surpasses the 17 percent recorded in Britain or 10 percent in Germany.
While some applaud the law others feel it is a money making scheme. Allegedly the chief of the road safety group that persuaded Nicolas Sarkozy’s government to adopt the ruling is also a senior executive with the leading manufacturer of the blow-in-the-bag test kits.
The law kicked in July 1st, however according to a survey published by AFP one day one just over half of respondents — 57 percent — said they have yet to equip their vehicles with breathalyzer tests.
I guess we shall if this curbs drinking and driving rates. If it does, guess we may see other countries adopting similar policies.