All French Motorists Now Required to Carry Breathalyzer Kits - East Idaho News
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All French Motorists Now Required to Carry Breathalyzer Kits

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GETTY W 070212 FranceCars?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1341222331861Stockbyte/Thinkstock(PARIS) — In an effort to crack down on drunk driving, a new law in France now requires all motorists to carry a breathalyzer kit in their cars or risk a fine.

The BBC reports some 4,000 people are killed on roads in France every year, with drunk driving being the number one cause, ahead of speeding.

The French government hopes the new breathalyzer law will prompt motorists who suspect they’ve had too much to drink to test themselves and not get behind the wheel if the results indicate their blood-alcohol level is above the legal limit.

Under the law, any motorist caught driving without a breathalyzer kit in their vehicle will be fined 11 euros, or approximately $13.  The law also requires all drivers to carry a high-visibility safety vest in their vehicle, along with a reflective warning triangle that must be placed behind their car during a breakdown.

There’s a four-month grace period for the law until November because of a shortage of breathalyzer kits.

French police say they plan on enforcing the law with random checks.

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