The issue of alcohol and drugs in school transport finally addressed seriously
This page is translated from the original post "Le sujet de l’alcool et des stupéfiants dans les transports scolaires enfin traité sérieusement" in French.
- 14/02/2025 17:39
It has taken too many sacrificed lives for the government to finally decide to apply a sensible zero tolerance policy.
Between February 3 and 7, 23,900 school buses were inspected at the joint initiative of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transport. At the end of this campaign, 102 drivers tested positive, including 97 for drugs and 5 for alcohol. The licenses of these drivers were immediately suspended, and judicial proceedings are underway. “There will be no tolerance for these behaviors. The safety of users, especially the transported children, is our top priority,” say the authorities.
Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, highlighted the scale of the problem: “These checks confirm the existence of a serious issue related to driving under the influence of substances,” emphasized the Minister of Transport. “I have asked school transport companies to quickly submit proposals to systematize screening, in addition to preventive actions. Announcements will follow soon.” Announcements indeed, but a situation that can no longer persist. Every transportation professional is responsible for human lives, and a few bad apples tarnish the reputation of a more than respectable profession.
Stop to empty announcements
The figures remind us of the urgency of this fight: in 2024, 40% of road deaths were linked to alcohol or drugs. Alcohol is involved in one fatal accident in four, while drugs cause one in five. In the face of these dangers, only regular and random checks across the territory seem effective.
If this initiative marks a positive advancement in the fight against driving under the influence, it is crucial that it does not remain just a media stunt. Concrete and lasting actions must be implemented to ensure the safety of children and maintain pressure on offenders. Road safety demands constant commitment, beyond announcements, to make zero tolerance a reality.
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