According to a report by the Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency, drunk drivers have caused 507 traffic accidents so far this year, which is 16% less than in the same period last year. However, it should be noted that in the period from 15 March to 15 May, when measures were in place to contain the coronavirus epidemic, there was significantly less traffic than usual. In this period 1,454 traffic accidents were recorded this year compared to 2,949 accidents in the same period last year.
During the epidemic containment period (from March 16 to May 31), however, the share of traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers rose to 14%, up from 9.5% in the same period last year.
Of all those who died in traffic accidents this year (32 people), 13 lost their lives due to a drunk driver. Nine of the drunk drivers died in the accident they caused.
In most cases, the cause of the drunk driving accidents was driving in the wrong direction or on the wrong side of the road (7 accidents with 7 fatalities) and at an inappropriate speed (3 accidents with 3 fatalities).
Among all drunk drivers who caused traffic accidents this year (26 people), whose blood alcohol content was measured above 2 promille (blood alcohol concentration per thousand, with 1 promille meaning 1 gram of alcohol per kilo of blood) , 18 of them went drunk driving during the epidemic lockdown, or almost 70%. The highest measured level of alcohol in blood of the perpetrator of the traffic accident was 3.13 promille, which also ended with loss of life. The average level of alcohol in the blood of the perpetrators of fatal traffic accidents was 1.21 promille (down from 1.58 promille in the same period last year).
As part of stricter controls the police will conduct monitoring of the psychophysical condition of drivers on June 20, 2020, from 6 pm that day until 6 am the next day. The purpose of tighter controls is in spreading awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Slovenia is one of the countries where alcohol consumption per capita is among the highest in Europe. According to the World Health Organization, this amounts to 12.6 liters of pure alcohol per capita in the population over the age of 15. The risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and other illicit substances are very high, as they reduce the psychophysical ability to participate safely in traffic.
