Drink-Driving in Czech Republic
Figures
Officially recorded alcohol-related road deaths accounted for almost 10% of all road deaths in 2019, (60 out of 617 total road deaths). Preliminary figures for 2020 record 57 deaths due to alcohol impairment on Czech roads.
The Czech Republic has a long tradition in collecting reliable alcohol data after road collisions. A breath test is done and reported by the police for all road crashes that occur and road safety experts believe that the level of underreporting is very low.
National policies
At the beginning of 2021, drink-driving measures were adopted in the new National Traffic Safety Strategy for 2021 – 2030:
- Make more intensive alcohol roadside checks. Increase visible police surveillance with a focus on speed, alcohol and addictive substances;
- Promotion of in-vehicle technologies installation (i.e. alcohol interlocks) with reference to the implementation of the EU Regulation 2019/2144 on type-approval requirements for motor vehicles (Article 6).
BAC limits and sanctions
The standard BAC limit for all drivers is zero since 1953 (tolerance level up to 0.24g/l).
The sanctions foreseen by Czech legislation for drivers under the influence of alcohol are the following:
| BAC (g/l) | Fine | Driving ban | Penalty Points | Imprisonment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤0.3 g/l | 100 – 800 euros | From 6 months to 1 year | 0 | |
| Between 0.3 and 1.0g/l | 100 – 800 euros | From 1 to 2 years | 7 | |
| >1.0g/l | 1000 to 2000 euros | Up to 10 years | 7 | Up to 3 years |
Enforcement
Systematic breath testing was introduced in January 2010. All drivers stopped by the police are systematically breath-tested for alcohol. Traffic police checks in 2019 found 6572 drivers positive, a percentage of 0.56 — 0.72 % of all checks (range from two types of checks). In 2020, 4937 drivers tested positive, a percentage of 0.41 up to 0.74 % (range from two types of checks).
Rehabilitation and Alcohol Interlock programmes
No Alcohol Interlock programme adopted.
Campaigns
One of the most recent drink-driving campaigns run by the Czech Governmental Council for Road Safety (Besip) was launched in October 2020 and is called “Nenech se ovlivnit” (Don’t be influenced). It focuses on young drivers under 25, showing the risks related to alcohol and drug consumption while driving. The campaign includes a TV spot and two radio spots, which were broadcast from October to December on TV and radio stations and shared on the web and social networks.
To read the full country focus click here.