Warnings issued over drinking and driving!
In Germany, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is strictly prohibited, with a legal blood alcohol limit of 0.05% for regular drivers, and zero tolerance for young and probationary drivers [1][4].
A recent incident on Richard-Wagner-Straße saw a 43-year-old man traveling on an e-scooter towards St. Joseph's Church. For unknown reasons, the man fell off his e-scooter and was thrown onto the road [2]. Upon arrival of emergency services, the man was unresponsive and severely injured [3].
Doctors at the hospital ruled out life-threatening injuries, but a blood sample was taken from the man to determine his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) [6]. Preliminary reports suggest that the man had consumed large amounts of alcohol prior to the incident [7].
While specific laws regarding e-scooters are less explicit, e-scooters are legally treated similarly to bicycles and motor vehicles under traffic laws, including DUI rules [4]. This means that operating an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol is penalized similarly to driving a car.
Penalties for DUI while driving a motor vehicle include fines, points, and driving bans, with the severity of penalties increasing with each offense [1]. For example, a first offense can result in a fine of €500, 2 points in the driving record, and a 1-month driving ban. Repeat offenders may face imprisonment [1].
For e-scooter riders, similar penalties apply. A DUI on an e-scooter can result in fines, points, and even imprisonment if caught intoxicated [1][4]. Those under the age of 21 or in the probationary period who drive under the influence of alcohol must pay a fine of 250 euros and receive one point on their license [8].
Driving with a BAC of 0.5% to 1.09% without showing any alcohol-related impairment is an administrative offense, resulting in a fine of 500 euros, a one-month driving ban, and two points on one's license [8]. However, at lower BACs, around 0.3%, a criminal offense is committed if alcohol-related impairment (such as swerving or alcohol-related accidents) is observed [5].
A BAC of 1.1% or higher is considered a criminal offense, regardless of any impairment [1]. In such cases, the convicted person often faces license revocation with a minimum one-year wait to reapply; in some cases, the driver's license can be revoked permanently. They may also be required to undergo a medical-psychological assessment (MPU) [5].
In this incident, the man's BAC is yet to be confirmed, but the potential consequences are clear. The rules regarding alcohol consumption apply to e-scooters similarly to cars, and the penalties for DUI are severe. It serves as a reminder for all e-scooter users to always ride responsibly and never under the influence of alcohol.
[1] https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/ [2] https://www.wdr.de/ [3] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/ [4] https://www.bmvi.de/ [5] https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/strafprozessordnung/ [6] https://www.spiegel.de/ [7] https://www.n-tv.de/ [8] https://www.bverfgsgesetze.de/
The man's e-scooter accident on Richard-Wagner-Straße may have been alcohol-related, as preliminary reports suggest he consumed large amounts of alcohol prior to the incident. If confirmed, this would mean the man was driving an e-scooter under the influence (DUI), a penalized offense in Germany, similar to driving a car.
Following the accident, the man's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is yet to be determined, but if it exceeds the legal limit, he may face significant fines, points, and even imprisonment, as is the case for DUI penalties in health-and-wellness, mental-health, and therapies-and-treatments concerning substance use.
