Volvo to provide breathylizers to Nordic Ferries

The Volvo Group has taken a step to reduce the number of intoxicated drivers entering Sweden by providing breathalyzer equipment for truck and bus drivers at ferries serving Sweden. This initiative has been welcomed by the authorities.

Over the past few years, there have been several serious accidents involving foreign vehicles driven by drivers who have been intoxicated. One of the most widely reported of these occurred outside Ystad in southern Sweden, when an intoxicated truck driver who had arrived by ferry from Poland crashed into oncoming traffic and killed five people.

Statistics from the police in southern Sweden also indicate a sharp rise in the number of intoxicated drivers. As of March this year, the number of drivers arrested in the port of Ystad for driving under the influence of alcohol has more than doubled compared with the previous year.

To reduce the risk that drivers of heavy vehicles drive while under the influence of alcohol, Volvo decided to offer shipping companies that serve Sweden to equip their ferries at no cost with special breathalyzers of the same type that Volvo provides for its heavy vehicles

In addition, printed material explaining the dangers of driving after drinking alcohol, and the relevant Swedish regulations, will be placed near the testing equipment.

“This will give professional drivers a quick and easy way to find out if they’ve had too much to drink to drive in Sweden,” says Ulf Magnusson, President of Volvo’s Nordic market company.

Volvo presented its plans today to the Swedish Infrastructure Minister Ulrika Messing at a meeting in Stockholm with the national association for zero vision.

The traffic section of the Skåne police is very positive to Volvo’s plans. “This is excellent,” says Leif Andersson, head of the traffic section for the police in Skåne. “With regard to trucks and buses, we are dealing with enormous forces and welcome all initiatives that can contribute to reducing the number of intoxicated drivers on our highways.”