Belgium introduces zero alcohol tolerance for novice drivers in 2027
Belgium is implementing a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for novice drivers starting in 2027 to combat rising road fatalities. The new rule lowers the legal limit to 0.2 per mille for those with less than three years of driving experience.
Why it matters
Stricter traffic regulations for new drivers are a common policy tool used to reduce accident rates among high-risk demographics.
Belgium introduces zero alcohol tolerance for novice drivers in 2027
In the first six months of this year, road deaths rose 6 per cent compared with the same period last year. This is according to the latest road safety barometer published by the Vias Institute, based on figures from the federal police. A total of 223 people were killed, compared with 210 in the first six months of 2025. The trend is most negative in Wallonia, where deaths rose from 91 to 110. In Flanders, the figure fell slightly (from 110 to 109), while in Brussels it fell sharply (from 9 to 4). The number of injury accidents decreased by 2 per cent.
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