BRATISLAVA, April 28, (WEBNOVINY) — Drunk driving could become a criminal offense in Slovakia even when the driver does not cause a traffic accident. The Cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Code, according to which an individual who drives with more than one promille of alcohol in blood (0.4763 ml per liter) or under influence of other illegal substances, could be sentenced to a year imprisonment. Individuals who refuse being tested for alcohol or other illegal substances will risk the same sentence. “When a driver sits behind the wheel under influence of alcohol, the vehicle becomes a dangerous weapon, [capable of] killing innocent people,” said Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic.
The ‚three strikes and out‘ principle will probably be introduced for drinking and driving: when a driver is caught driving drunk three times, he would lose his driving license forever. Lipsic does not consider this measure retroactive, as according to him, the ‘no-driving sentence for life’ is a sentence for the third offense, not for the previous two. “If someone permanently drives his or her vehicle after consuming alcohol, they become dangerous to innocent people,” explained Lipsic, adding that there was enough of it.
The amendment also incorporates limiting the use of second- and third class roads for transit freight traffic. The draft introduces a possibility of acquiring a driving license for the 17-year olds. However, for the first year they will only be allowed to drive under supervision of another driver with at least ten years experience. The aim is to give young drivers the possibility to learn driving from someone experienced. This measure is inspired by know-how from abroad, among others from Germany, where the number of accidents of young drivers dropped after introducing similar legislation.
In order to increase protection of pedestrians and bikers, the draft also introduces new fines for not yielding on a pedestrian crossing. A novelty introduced is an obligation to participate at additional driving lessons for notorious violators of traffic rules.
SITA