Spain tightens drunk driving laws with new alcohol limit

This is the first country in Western Europe to decide to implement such a low limit. The new regulations might pose a challenge for some Spanish drivers.

As reported by "Interia Motoryzacja", in 2023, 1,197 people died on Spanish roads, of which 862 were drivers. Alarmingly, more than half of these drivers (53.6 per cent) were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The regulations in Iberia regarding driving under the influence of alcohol are similar to those in most Western European countries and are therefore fairly liberal. The standard blood alcohol limit there is 0.5 per mille. Professional drivers (0.3 per mille) and young drivers (those under the age of 18 must be absolutely sober) face stricter rules.

Even though the limits in Spain are relatively high, local drivers often feature prominently in undesirable statistics. Data from the European Commission for 2023 indicates that as many as 2.5 per cent of drivers tested were not only under the influence of alcohol but had also exceeded the standard limit of 0.5 per mille.

The authorities have decided to take action by tightening the regulations. According to "Interia Motoryzacja" and the European Transport Safety Council, from next year, Spanish drivers will not be allowed to exceed 0.2 per mille of blood alcohol.

Spaniards face a challenging task. Only time will reveal whether the lower limits will genuinely alter local driving habits or perhaps merely lead to even higher numbers in detection statistics.