News

Even in countries with generally high road safety performance, alcohol in traffic remains a stubborn and recurring risk factor. At EU level, the European Commission estimates that around 25% of all road fatalities are alcohol-related. The challenge is amplified by the fact that alcohol-impaired driving is relatively infrequent compared to total exposure, but yet it contributes disproportionately to severe outcomes. European road safety sources note that only a small share of driving is done above illegal levels, but the crash risk increases sharply as BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) rises, i.e., the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.

In Sweden, the overall share of sober traffic is high, but fatal crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs remain a significant part of the fatality picture. For example, the Swedish Transport Administration’s trend analysis reported that in 2017, 32% of road traffic fatalities occurred in crash types that were alcohol- or drug-related.

To support evidence-informed progress in this area, VTI is launching the Skyltfonden-funded project “Mandatory Alcohol Interlocks in the EU – A Knowledge Base for Advancing the Process” (1 January–31 August 2026). The project will develop a practical knowledge base that brings together user experiences, as well as technical and legal considerations, to help clarify pathways for moving the process forward. 

A key ambition is to strengthen collaboration and shared understanding between research and public stakeholders, by providing a robust, accessible basis for dialogue and decision-making—particularly relevant for Trafikverket and Transportstyrelsen as intended users/stakeholders of the knowledge base. 

Project lead: Åsa Forsman (VTI) 
Partner: VTI, with Trafikverket and Transportstyrelsen as key stakeholders/end users.