In Montenegro, from January 1 to September 1 this year, 5.053 people were arrested for serious traffic violations, including driving under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances, while 3.414 people were arrested in the same period last year.
The Police Directorate told the MINA agency that from January 1 to September 1 this year, 1.824 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol with a concentration of more than one per mille, while 488 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol with a concentration of more than two per mille.
They said that during that period, 211 people refused breathalyzer tests.
"909 people were arrested for driving under the influence of psychoactive substances, as well as 458 who refused to be tested," the police said.
They added that, in addition to these, speeding and overtaking on a continuous line are the other most common traffic violations committed by drivers.
Citing comparative data, the police said that the total number of people arrested from January 1 to September 1 this year is higher than the same period last year, when 3.414 people were arrested for serious violations of the Road Traffic Safety Act.
"In the period from January 1 to September 1 last year, 1.715 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol with a concentration of more than one per mille, while 330 were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol with a concentration of more than two per mille," the police said, adding that 252 people refused to take a breathalyzer test.
As they stated, 431 people were arrested for driving under the influence of psychoactive substances during the same period, as well as 406 who refused to be tested.
When asked in which cities the most drivers were arrested from January 1 to September 1 this year, the police responded that the most people arrested for serious traffic violations were in Podgorica - 1.747, Bar - 412, and Budva - 360.
They said that from January 1 to September 1 this year, 4.617 traffic accidents occurred on the roads of Montenegro, in which 38 people died.
In traffic accidents that occurred during that period, according to the police, 1.678 people were slightly injured and 466 seriously injured.
As they said, out of the 38 people who died in traffic accidents, three were pedestrians.
"Given that blood tests for participants in traffic accidents with the most serious consequences are submitted directly to the local competent Basic State Prosecutor's Office, the Police Directorate currently does not have data on how many traffic accidents there were from January 1 to September 1 of this year in which the driver was under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances," the police stated.
When asked what measures the police are taking to reduce the number of drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and whether these measures are effective, they said that their officers have implemented several campaigns to inform road users of how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances.
"Also, through regular activities, traffic police officers conduct constant and indiscriminate checks for the presence of alcohol and psychoactive substances in the body," the police said.
They stated that, unfortunately, despite these activities, there are still a large number of road users who drive under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances.
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