This is a novelty that echoes the accident involving Pierre Palmade at the end of last week. In a few months, any traffic accident that takes place will cause a saliva test to detect drugs. Until now, these tests only took place in the event of accidents with injuries or deaths.
From now on, this will be the case for all accidents. A circular from the college of prosecutors is in preparation.
Numbers
The number of drivers under the influence of drugs is constantly increasing:
- 8% of Walloon drivers acknowledge having driven under the influence of drugs during the past month, 15% in Brussels and 5% in Flanders
- 14% are between 18 and 34 years old
- 13,280 positive controls took place in 2021 and 6,500 in the first half of 2022 alone.
As a result, the number of saliva tests available has never been greater: 140,000 in 2023. There were only 36,000 in 2020 and 50,000 in 2021, but at least 250,000 would be needed to cover all accidents on one year, in addition to drug-specific controls.
Today, the risk of being checked is 4x higher than 10 years ago. If you are positive, there is a license withdrawal of 15 days minimum and 6 and a half months maximum, with then appearance before the police court.
Strengthening the fight once morest drugs while driving will also involve another novelty: “theCustoms officers will be able to carry out alcohol and drug checks“, explains Georges Gilkinet. “As they are sworn, they will be able to verbalize. Currently, they have to wait for the police to arrive if they have a suspicion“These two adaptations must enter into force “as soon as possible” by the end of the year.