Road safety is a matter of public interest that requires effective and courageous measures. In Spain, a new legislative proposal was approved aimed at reducing the blood -blooded alcohol rate in Parliament, repeating the practices of European countries with the best road safety indicators.
Written by Dugo Fernandez Sosa *
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Currently, in Portugal and Spain, the total alcohol limit is 0.5 grams per liter of blood. However, international studies and expertise show that even small amounts of alcohol affect the ability of driving. The risk of accidents doubles at a rate of 0.5 g/l compared to zero consumption. Countries such as Sweden and Norway, and references in the prevention of roads have established 0.2 g/l limits, and international organizations recommend them to reduce the villain and deaths.
The Spanish proposal not only reduces the maximum of all drivers, but also prevents the deployment of police operations sites, and enables practices that weaken supervision and increase impunity. These are examples of measures that save lives and enhance the culture of responsibility behind the wheel.
The argument that “drinking glass is not bad” ignores an essential fact: any amount of alcohol reduces reactions and perception of risk. Also, by maintaining the margin of “acceptable” alcohol in the blood, we send a wrong message to society, indicating the existence of a safe consumption before driving.
Portugal has a real problem in the road accident, with hundreds of deadly and serious injuries every year. A third of the deadly victims suffer from alcohol in the blood, according to Spanish data, and the Portuguese reality will not be much different. If we want to reduce these statistics, it is necessary to adopt strict policies and comply with the best European practices.
Reducing the legal alcohol rate for leadership leadership is not the issue of reducing individual freedoms, but to protect lives. The right to consumption of alcohol can not exceed the right to the integrity of all those on the roads.
Prevention should be priority, and Portugal now has an opportunity to learn from Spain and adopt more demanding legislation.
* The writer of the book “The Trends of the Nation: Reflections on Portuguese”. Professor at the Jean Piaget Institute for Applied Arts.
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