20 times more likely to be breathalysed in France
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
British motorists are being warned they are TWENTY times more likely to be breathalysed by Police in France, compared to the UK.
And with the French drink drive limit much lower than England & Wales, many could find themselves the wrong side of the law whilst driving abroad this Summer.
The English and Welsh limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100mL of blood (0.80‰BAC).
In France, the limit is 0.50 ‰BAC and - if you’ve held your licence for less than three years - it reduces further to 0.20 ‰BAC.
But British drivers are blissfully unaware of these lower limits. In a survey conducted by breathalyser firm AlcoSense, only 17% of respondents could correctly state the drink drive limit in France.
The French gendarmes test 108 drivers per 1000 population each year.
In England and Wales, by comparison, there are just 5 breath tests per 1000 - making it over 20 times more likely that you will be breathalysed in France.
The penalties are severe. If you are caught above 0.80‰BAC (the English limit) you face a hefty fine of €4,500 and potentially a two-year prison sentence.
“Taking a personal breathalyser with you on holiday removes the guesswork about whether you’re clear of alcohol,” comments Hunter Abbott of AlcoSense.
“It’s far easier than you think to still be under the influence the morning after a few drinks the night before. If you drink four pints of medium-strong beer or four large glasses of wine, it can take as long as 14 hours for the alcohol to completely clear your system”.
The AlcoSense NF single-use breathalyser is one of only two products worldwide to meet and exceed the latest version of the mandatory French “NF” standard. Certified by the National Laboratory of France for both Police roadside screening and personal use, the NF breathalyser is specifically designed to work with the French drink drive limit.
Drink drive limits are even lower in other European countries.
In Poland, Sweden and Norway it’s 0.20 ‰BAC for all drivers - but in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania the limit is literally zero.
