News

The French government  are bringing in a new law that all cars must carry a single-use breathalyser kit from July 1st. 2012

Every driver of a motorised land vehicle, excluding mopeds, must possess an unused and immediately available breathalyser,

A fine of €11 will be charged to anyone not carrying the breathalyser kit, but police have been told to start fining only from November 1st.

The government hopes having a kit in the car will allow people to test themselves and to give them the means to test others if they suspect they are over the limit. The legal blood alcohol limit in France is 0.5 grams per litre.

New coaches have been equipped with breathalyser tests that prevent drivers starting the ignition since January 2010. The devices are to be installed in all coaches by the start of the 2015 school year.

A total of 3,970 people died on French roads in 2011, down barely 0.5 percent or 22 lives compared to 2010. When Sarkozy came to power in 2007 he set the government the ambitious target of reducing annual road deaths to 3,000 by 2012.

The new breathalyser requirement will be added to the existing rules compelling drivers to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest. Failure to have these in the car can lead to a €90 fine.

This is maybe why we need the kits in France, as some people are not alway sure if they are over the limit!