Number of drink driving deaths has decreased

The Czech Republic has made the most progress in reducing drink-driving deaths in Europe but the number of victims has risen in other countries, including Britain, according to a report published by the Brussels-based European Transport Safety Council. Deaths from alcohol-related accidents in the Czech Republic fell 11 percent faster than other road deaths between 1996 and 2005, followed by Germany and Poland with falls of about 6 and 5 percent, respectively, the report said. Keys to bringing down the death rate were the blood-alcohol limits for legal driving, which vary from country to country, as well as testing of drivers by police, which remains patchy in many EU countries.

Drink-driving and speeding is still the most frequent cause of road accidents in the Czech Republic but the traffic police regularly test drivers within big road safety operations. Last year the Czech Republic introduced a strict new road legislation with tough penalties for both speeding and drink-driving.