Limburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – During the SLim campaign in Limburg, police stopped 7,700 drivers (62 alcohol-positive, 19 drug-positive), checked 12,745 vehicles for speeding and other violations, with multiple licenses suspended, authorities reported.
As VRT News reported, police in Limburg Limburg police launch school safety protocol in Hasseltcarried out an SLim traffic campaign last weekend to fight impaired driving. Officers stopped 7,700 drivers and required them to take breath tests. Out of these, 62 drivers tested positive for alcohol. Half of those were heavily intoxicated. Their driving licenses were immediately suspended for at least 15 days.
“Compared to a few years ago, the number of drunk drivers has decreased, but it has remained at the same level for quite some time. This shows that a small group remains stubborn,”
says Laura Olaerts (N-VA), Deputy for Safety and Mobility.
What are the Limburg police finding during the SLim Traffic campaign?
Police said the operation also focused on raising awareness. They want people to avoid driving after drinking or using drugs. Authorities stressed that such campaigns will continue regularly. Their goal is to reduce crashes caused by alcohol and drugs and keep Limburg’s roads safe.
During the checks, 19 drivers were found driving under the influence of drugs. All had their licenses temporarily suspended. Commissioner Guy Sweeck of the Limburg traffic police said the results show a change in the pattern of violations.
Officers also checked for speeding. Of the 12,745 vehicles stopped, 9.14% were driving too fast. In addition, 3 drivers were caught using a smartphone while driving. Their licenses were confiscated for 15 days, and fines were issued.
“We’ve been seeing a decline in alcohol for several years, but during evening checks, we’re seeing an increase in drug use,”
Commissioner Guy Sweeck said.
The operation also revealed other violations. Authorities found 16 drivers not wearing a seat belt, 8 driving uninsured, 34 vehicles without inspection, 8 unregistered vehicles, and 16 drivers without a valid license.
SLim stands for Safe Limburg and is a traffic safety campaign held twice a year since 2008 at the initiative of the governor. During the campaign weekend, the traffic police and all 13 Limburg police zones carry out widespread checks on the region’s roads. Officers focus on speeding, alcohol use, and drug-impaired driving, which are major causes of accidents.
