(L-R) Alain Disiviscour, Head of Traffic and Road Safety Department, Ministry of Mobility and Public Works; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Mobility and Public Works;
Credit: MMTP
On Monday 14 November 2022, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch, and the President of Road Safety ASBL, Paul Hammelmann, presented the new road safety campaign "Zero Drunk Driving" (Zéro alcool au volant), which aims to make the general public aware of the dangers of drunk-driving.
According to the ministry, statistics show that alcohol remains the second main cause of accidents on the roads of Luxembourg, whose number of fatal and serious accidents has increased sharply in 2021.
Due to an increase in accidents since 2021, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works and Road Safety ASBL have decided to launch a campaign, opting for a friendly tone. The aim is to remind drivers of the risks of serious and fatal accidents associated with driving under the influence of alcohol. Likewise, the campaign aims to demonstrate that there are many solutions to ensure a safe return home.
During the press conference, Minister Bausch said: “It is important to launch the campaign before the end of year celebrations. We have seen that alcohol consumption is on the rise again in the post-COVID period. When people decide to consume alcohol, it will be necessary to resort to an alternative solution and to take into account the fatal consequences for oneself and for others".
The president of Road Safety ASBL, Paul Hammelmann, wondered if in view of the increase in figures, should it be considered to carry out blood alcohol checks without the order of the public prosecutor's office, as is the case with blood alcohol checks for speeding offences.
"Citizens should not be afraid of systematic roadside checks by the police, but rather be aware that after consuming alcohol they tend to drive in a dangerous and risky way", added André Schaack, commissioner head of the national traffic and road safety service of the Luxembourg police.
The campaign thematises the danger of drunk driving and the fatal consequences by emphasising the good reflexes to adopt in the event of alcohol consumption and proposes alternatives to the car, such as taking public transport, taking a taxi or stay overnight with family or friends. The best solution is always not to drive after consuming alcohol, even when the consumption is moderate.
The new "Zero Drunk Driving" campaign will be on broadcast on television, cinema, radio, digital press, banners on various media sites, on social networks, on digital screens in trams and buses as well as on the full backs of the RGTR network buses. This is also made available on 45 road signs in the national network.
