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Anyone caught driving with 0,8 per mille or more in the beautiful holiday destination must first surrender their driving licence. But that will soon no longer be enough. Once the driving licence has expired, those affected must now install the so-called ‘Alcolock’ in their vehicle at their own expense. How long this must be fitted in the car depends on the alcohol level at which you were caught. Two years if you had between 0,8 and 1,5 per mille in your blood. Three years if you had a blood alcohol level of 1,5 per mille or more. Only authorised workshops are permitted to install the devices in vehicles for around 2000 euros. Anyone attempting to circumvent this process risks a fine of around 600 euros. Far less than the installation would cost. However, it should be noted that if the offence is repeated, the driver's licence must also be surrendered again. Those affected should therefore think twice.

This regulation already exists in the USA and Sweden. It has been discussed in Germany. The automobile club ADAC rejects the project on the grounds of disproportionality. Furthermore, according to statistics, it cannot be assumed that the number of alcohol-related accidents would actually decrease. At least the number would not fall significantly. Nevertheless, Italy cites this as a reason for introducing the alcolocks. However, difficulties are also seen here in the fact that 1/5 of the vehicles registered in Italy are more than 20 years old and therefore possibly not even suitable for being fitted with such a device. The device works in such a way that you have to blow into a tube before starting a journey and the car only starts as long as the blood alcohol level is less than 0,5 per mille. If the value is higher, the car cannot be started.

It remains to be seen how the system will prove itself in Italy.

 

Source: Pixabay/happy-holidays-2578446_1280