Tunbridge Wells, UK: From 1 July anyone driving a motorised vehicle in or through France will be required to carry a single-use disposable breathalyser kit, although the enforcement and fines for not carrying one will not commence until 1 November.
This measure is intended to reduce drink-driving problems in the country, which were responsible for around 4,000 deaths in 2011, by enabling drivers to test themselves before beginning their journey. Police will use their own, more sophisticated alcohol testing devices if a driver is suspected of being over the drink-drive limit and is asked to take a test, the The Freight Transport Association says.
The Freight Transport Association’s shop stocks the NF-approved disposable breathalysers, priced at £2.25 ex VAT for non-members and which are recommended for use in France.
“Rather than waiting to buy them in October or November it is recommended that companies pre-order their breathalysers now in order to guarantee a delivery in October, and to avoid wasting around six months or so of the life of the product, which usually has a shelf life of two years,” the association says.
“If companies want to guarantee that they have breathalysers in their vehicles in time for November, when the law is enforced, they need to order now for delivery in October. This pre-ordering will help us to ensure we have sufficient stocks to fulfil all orders, as we are already experiencing extremely high demand,” says Sam Law, general manager, Shopfta says.
