A clear majority of Germans want stricter alcohol limits for road users, according to a representative Forsa survey commissioned by RTL and published on Tuesday. Of those surveyed, 68 percent said they want the existing 0.5 per mille limit to be tightened. Within that group, 45 percent called for a complete alcohol ban for drivers, while 23 percent favoured lowering the limit to a maximum of 0.3 per mille. Only just under a third (28 percent) said they wanted to keep the current limit in place.
On the question of e-scooter riders, respondents were similarly in favour of stricter rules. Forty-four percent said e-scooter riders should abstain from alcohol entirely. A further 22 percent favoured a 0.3 per mille limit, and 24 percent said the existing 0.5 per mille threshold should apply. Under current law, e-scooter riders are subject to the same alcohol limits as car drivers.
Respondents were noticeably more tolerant when it came to cyclists and e-bike riders. Just under a third (31 percent) said they should face a complete alcohol ban. Twenty-three percent favoured a 0.3 per mille limit, 26 percent said 0.5 per mille would be appropriate, and 15 percent were comfortable with a limit of 1.1 per mille or above.
Under current law, cyclists face a so-called relative incapacity to drive at 0.3 per mille, which already carries a criminal complaint, one point on the driving record and a fine. Absolute incapacity is reached at 1.6 per mille, which constitutes a criminal offence and can result in a higher fine, two points and a mandatory medical-psychological assessment (MPU).
Despite widespread support for stricter rules, 60 percent of respondents admitted to having driven a car after consuming alcohol. Of those, 51 percent said they had done so after drinking small amounts, such as a 0.3-litre beer or a 0.2-litre glass of wine.
Nearly one in ten drivers (nine percent) said they had also driven after consuming larger quantities of alcohol. Men were more likely than women to admit to drink-driving, particularly after drinking more than one glass: 13 percent of men said they had done so, compared to five percent of women.
Two-thirds of cyclists (67 percent) said they had ridden while under the influence of alcohol at least once, the majority after only small amounts (38 percent), but nearly a third (29 percent) also after more than one drink. That figure was reported by almost twice as many men (39 percent) as women (20 percent).
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
