Running from today till May 10

GNR police have today begun what is being described as “an intensive surveillance operation on driving under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic substances”. It will run until May 10 – the idea being to promote ‘safer behaviours’.

In a statement, the force said the “RoadPol – Alcohol and Drugs” operation aims to “reduce serious road accidents throughout the country”.

Roadpol is an organisation established by Europe’s traffic police forces to improve road safety and law enforcement on the roads.

As part of the operation, the GNR will run “an intensive enforcement intervention dedicated to driver behaviour, given that driving under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic substances is a risk factor that has been the subject of growing attention in road safety policies at the European level”, explains Lusa.

“The aim is to increase prevention and awareness of the issue and promote safer behaviour among drivers,” said the statement.

During a similar operation last year, agents arrested 9,226 drivers for being in charge of vehicles with an alcohol level over 1.2 g/l. Over 100 were arrested for driving under the influence of psychotropic substances. In the same period, 20,589 drivers inspected by the GNR had an alcohol level above the legal limit.

The GNR became a member of RoadPol at the end of 2021 and will now integrate operations planned by that organisation into its operational planning.

In the 2020-2022 strategy, RoadPol established four areas of action in road safety: roads, vehicles, users and speed.

Source: Lusa