Alcohol

Driving under the influence of alcohol is still one of the main risk factors for the occurrence of a traffic accident.

Our capabilities regarding safe participation in traffic, detection, prediction, judgment and decision-making, including final execution of appropriate action, is reduced because of alcohol. That is why, in comparison with that of sober driving, the probability of causing an accident doubles at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 promille, and is eight-times higher at 1.1 promille.

Alcohol is most problematic with drivers in instances where the consequences of traffic accidents are most severe, but it is also a risk factor for the occurrence of traffic accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. About one quarter of traffic accidents with casualties and severe injuries are related to the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol effects

The effects of alcohol on capabilities that are important for safe participation in traffic include:

EYESIGHT:reduced field of vision, slower pupil reaction to oncoming light stimuli such as headlights, decreased sensitivity to shades of lightness and darkness, less effective colour recognition – particularly regarding red, reduced detection of movement, depth, distance/closeness.
MOVEMENT:reduced reaction speed and distorted time sense, impaired coordination of arms and legs.
SELF-AWARENESS:self-overestimation, lack of awareness of reduced capability, sense of bravado regarding control, denial of consequences.
EMOTIONAL CONDITION: encourages a sense of negative experience, can culminate in serious and deep emotional issues (depression, anger, aggression).

Read and consider

Never drink or use other psychoactive drugs when driving.
Alcohol in traffic is one of the main risk factors in getting involved in a traffic accident.
Be aware that even one glass of alcohol reduces our psychophysical capabilities for safe participation in traffic.
Do not drive with a driver who has consumed alcohol and warn them about the risk.
Alcohol is a risk factor for pedestrians and cyclists as well, since there are some pedestrians and cyclists involved in alcohol-related accidents resulting in severe injuries every year.
Alcohol greatly affects the operation of the brain and long-term consumption can have severe effects on health.

Follow the recommendations for reduction of alcohol use:

Never be a participant in traffic under the influence of alcohol.
If your intention is to drink alcohol, arrange for a safe return home (bus, taxi, etc.).
Do not offer alcohol to a minor.
Do not offer alcohol in a school or workplace.

Safe driving without alcohol!

Alcohol is not the “guilty party” in a traffic accident. It is the person who sits behind the wheel intoxicated and causes the accident that is responsible.

The Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency warns that it is wrong to believe that a hearty meal can ease the consequences of alcohol consumption. Food only causes a delay and intoxication is revealed later. Nor can fresh air and movement in the open air nullify the effects of consumed alcohol.

Excuses that other people convinced us to drink, that the drive home is very short or that we have not drunk so much that we cannot drive in no
way contribute to better safety on our roads.

Up to the end of November 2021, alcohol abuse had led to 1,277 traffic accidents, 631 bodily injuries (of which 96 were severe), and 33 fatalities.

The majority of fatal traffic accidents were caused by drivers of cars and single-track motor vehicles. All persons responsible for fatal traffic accidents were men, primarily those between 45 – 54 and 55 and 64 years of age, while two traffic accident fatalities were caused by drunk adolescents aged 15 and 16. The average level of intoxication among all persons responsible for fatal traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol was 1.39 per mille. The infamous “record holder” among them had 3.14 per mille in his blood.

The calculation based on data from 2019 and 2020 reveals that every twelfth traffic accident and every third fatal traffic accident is caused by intoxicated traffic participants.

Fines for drink-driving

The B-category licence legally allows 0.24 g/mg or 0.5 permille of alcohol. For novice drivers, professional drivers, driving instructors, and for some others, zero tolerance (0.0 of alcohol) applies. Fines are imposed on drivers who have up to 0.5 g of alcohol per kg of blood or 0.24 mg of alcohol in exhaled air, with no additional sanctions if they do not show deviations in behaviour that may lead to unreliable actions in road traffic:

Minor offence	Fine	Penalty points	Additional sanction
Up to and including 0.50 g of alcohol per kg of blood or 0.24 mg/l in exhaled air and showing no behavioural deviations	EUR 300,00	4	–
Over 0.50 up to and including 0.80 g of alcohol per kg of blood or more than 0.24 up to and including 0.38 mg/l of exhaled air	EUR 600,00	8	Possible attendance at a medical examination and consultation with a personal physician – to remove 4 penalty points
Over 0.80 up to and including 1.10 g of alcohol per kg of blood or more than 0.38 up to and including 0.52 mg/l of exhaled air	EUR 900,00	16	Voluntary participation in a rehabilitation programme to remove 4 penalty points (once every three years)
Over 1.10 g of alcohol per kg of blood or more than 0.52 mg/l of exhaled air	EUR 1.200,00	18	Possibility of detaining the driver, suspension of driving licence or postponement of suspension for a controlled medical examination and participation in an appropriate rehabilitation programme (educational, psychosocial workshops or treatment)

Did you know…

… About one in ten traffic accidents occurs as the consequence of intoxication of the person responsible, of which one in three has a fatal outcome.

… Intoxication cannot be reduced with fresh air, oil ingestion or by chewing gum, as it is dependent upon the processing of alcohol in the liver.

Preventive action Think It Through. Alcohol Kills.

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