by InTrieste
In a concerted effort to curb the alarming rise in alcohol and drug-impaired driving, the State Police in Trieste launched an intensified crackdown over the weekend, demonstrating their commitment to public safety.
As part of a broader national initiative to combat reckless driving, the Chief of Police in Trieste implemented a sweeping operation that spanned the night between Friday and Saturday, August 31. The operation saw officers from the Traffic Police and the Trieste Local Police joining forces in a series of road inspections aimed at detecting and preventing driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.
The coordinated effort focused on the major roads connecting Trieste to the nearby highway network, where a combination of three Traffic Police patrols, a Police Headquarters unit, and two Local Police patrols conducted breathalyzer tests on 87 drivers. The results revealed 11 violations of Italy’s stringent traffic laws, underscoring the severity of the issue in the region.
The violations included six cases where drivers registered blood alcohol levels between 0.51 and 0.8 grams per liter, slightly above the legal limit. Among those caught were four men and one woman. In four additional cases, drivers were found to have blood alcohol concentrations between 0.81 and 1.5 grams per liter, significantly higher than the legal threshold. These offenders included three men, one of whom was a newly licensed driver, and one woman. One male driver refused to undergo the breathalyzer test altogether, resulting in a further violation.
As a result of the operation, 11 drivers had their licenses confiscated, with a total of 120 points deducted across all cases. Authorities also seized one vehicle for confiscation, as the crackdown escalated enforcement in a region grappling with dangerous driving behaviors.
Authorities stressed that the campaign is not simply punitive but part of a larger effort to protect citizens and raise awareness of the grave dangers posed by impaired driving. Traffic Police officials highlighted the debilitating effects of alcohol on drivers, which include impaired reaction times, double vision, and a reduced ability to judge depth and lateral surroundings. “Alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system,” the police said in a statement, noting that even small amounts can lead to a significant loss of control behind the wheel.
The effects of drugs, officials added, are even more profound and unpredictable. Driving under the influence of psychotropic substances not only impairs motor skills but can severely distort perception, creating highly dangerous conditions for drivers and those around them.
The State Police campaign is set to continue throughout the summer, a critical period for road travel in Italy, as part of a national push to reduce traffic accidents and ensure the safety of citizens. This stepped-up enforcement comes amid broader European efforts to address rising concerns about impaired driving, particularly as tourism brings a surge in road traffic during the holiday season.
