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Weekend drink-driving rate almost halved in eight years

The number of motorists who get behind the wheel at the weekend while over the legal alcohol limit has fallen dramatically in the last decade.

Research by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment found that 2.4% of motorists stopped during routine alcohol checks on weekend nights were over the limit in 2010. In 2002 the figure was 4.1%.

Most offenders were aged between 35 and 49, with the largest geographical concentration in the province of North Holland.

Overall 94% of drivers were found to have no alcohol in their system.

The proportion of drink-drivers with no driving licence also fell from 4.8% to 4.1%.

The Dutch government has backed a designated driver campaign, known as Bob, urging those driving home from nights out to abstain from alcohol altogether.

Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen said: “The Bob campaign, combined with strong intervention, is bearing fruit. We will be continuing with this approach in the years to come in order to stay on the right lines.”

Source: NRC: Steeds minder drankrijders in Nederland, trend zet zich door

Photo by Roel