Speeders, alcohol and drugs: Police take action in Salzburg!

Speeders, alcohol and drugs: Police take action in Salzburg!

On April 29, 2025, the police in Salzburg carried out extensive traffic controls on the A10 motorway and in the city of Salzburg. The aim of the measure was to remove speeders, drunk drivers and drivers under the influence of drugs from traffic. These checks revealed several serious violations.

A 30-year-old Slovenian was measured at a speed of 168 km/h on the A10, even though only 100 km/h is allowed there. In the city of Salzburg, a car driver on Alpenstrasse clearly exceeded the legal limit with a blood alcohol level of 1.86 per mille. Another driver on Kendlerstrasse was also driving at 97 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

Drug tests produce alarming results

The checks were not limited to speeding and alcohol. Drug checks were carried out in the Zell am See district and several vehicle drivers showed positive test results for cannabis. A 34-year-old Polish car driver was stopped in Kaprun with a positive drug test for cannabis after taking a negative breathalyzer test. Likewise, a 24-year-old Polish driver and a 44-year-old woman from Pinzgau in Zell am See showed positive results for cannabis.

In all cases, immediate police action was taken, which included the withdrawal of the driver's license, a driving ban and reports. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges on the road, particularly with alcohol and drug use.

New legal regulations from 2024

Interestingly, on April 1, 2024, new regulations came into force with the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), which allow the possession, consumption and cultivation of cannabis under certain conditions. However, the increase in cannabis use could threaten road safety because the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) affects the central nervous system and can significantly impair the ability to drive. While there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5, there has previously been no set THC limit in road traffic. A violation of the new regulations occurs if a driver can be proven to be driving under the influence of THC, which is the case with a blood level of 1 ng/ml.

This makes the educational work that has been carried out in Germany and especially in Bavaria in recent years all the more important. The traffic guards are intensively involved in this and hold information events and prevention campaigns that are particularly aimed at young adult drivers.

In 2020, there were around 4,463 accidents in Bavaria that were caused by alcohol and 560 accidents involving drugs. These figures demonstrate the urgency of the measures, as traffic accidents under the influence of addictive substances are one of the main causes of serious accidents. More than half of drivers said they had gotten into dangerous situations due to distraction. Distracted driving includes not only cell phone use, but also everyday things like talking to passengers or eating while driving.

Overall, the current controls in Salzburg and the ongoing efforts of the traffic guards make it clear that the issues of alcohol and drugs in road traffic are still critical. For further information about events and education, contact your local traffic police or the Bavarian State Traffic Police.