After two complicated years to organize a New Year's Eve, due to health restrictions linked to Covid, the French intend to celebrate well this December 31, 2022. Even if it means letting go a little with regard to the alcohol consumption.
This is one of the predictions that emerges from the 13th barometer carried out in November by Road Safety, with a representative sample of the French population of driving age.
“
What has impacted us this year is the excessive consumption of alcohol
, underlines Anne Lavaud, general delegate of the Road Prevention Association.
In total, 8 out of 10 French people admit that they will drink alcohol on New Year's Eve: an average of 3.5 glasses.
This is already too much compared to the 2 glasses, or 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, authorized when driving.
Especially since, behind this average, there are strong disparities: 11.1% of those questioned recognize that they will drink more than 8 glasses of alcohol.
Young people
will take at least 5 and men at least 4.
The association does not seek to play the troublemaker to feast in circles but wants to make motorists aware of the risks to their lives and those of others.
“
Alcohol is the main cause of death in car accidents
, recalls Anne Lavaud.
During the last New Year's Eve, excluding Covid effects, in 2019, 20 people died on the roads of France on New Year's Eve.
This must be avoided by preparing in advance for his return home.
»
This prevention is all the more important since 7 out of 10 French people put forward bad solutions for returning home when they have drunk a little too much.
"
Drinking water, coffee, eating a mint candy or even taking oil on an empty stomach are false solutions
" , insists Anne Lavaud.
Just like passing through small roads or driving slowly.
The best is to designate before the evening a person who will not drink and who will take the wheel, or even better, to sleep on the spot.
43% of French people plan to spend New Year's Eve away from home.
Awareness workshops
To fully understand the effects of drink-driving, Road Safety has organized awareness-raising workshops in the major cities of France, including one in Paris, this Thursday morning, at Châtelet-Les Halles.
One of the exercises offered to passers-by: have them walk a road circuit materialized on a floor mat, reproducing a road dotted with pylons, with a roundabout, a stop sign, a priority... All while deliberately wearing glasses scrambled, so that they realize the effects of too much alcohol on their vision.
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“
You walked very slowly, you didn't respect the priority, you hit a few poles
, explains Hicham, a 3rd year medical student and volunteer with the association, to one of the young people who came to take part in the test.
With these glasses, you saw as if you had drunk four glasses of alcohol
.
""
It's not possible to drive in this state
, recognizes Sonny, a 32-year-old Ile-de-France resident who played the game.
I have already had a little too much to drink, but now I'm careful.
» Same effect for another tester.
“
I was not lucid while doing the course
, admits Kalifha, 18, a driver's license candidate.
It doesn't make you want to drink.
After the party, I'll take the subway.
»