Drunk coachman sleeps at the wheel: Police stop dangerous drive!

Drunk coachman sleeps at the wheel: Police stop dangerous drive!

On Sunday night, a carriage was driving without a driver in Bahnsdorf (Oberspreewald-Lausitz). The driver had apparently fallen asleep during the journey, making the situation extremely dangerous for the horses and other road users. An attentive witness noticed the team driving between the B156 and the Bahnsdorf junction and immediately informed the police. She was finally able to bring the carriage to a stop and discovered clear signs of alcohol on the driver. A test revealed that he was completely unfit to drive, which is why a blood test was carried out. Since the horses had lost control of the team, they were taken over by the coachman's relatives to avoid further complications.

The legal framework for driving carriages is clear: the road traffic regulations (StVO) also apply to carriage drivers, which states that from 1.1 per mille of alcohol in the blood, the ability to drive is no longer guaranteed. This applies not only to cars, but also to horse-drawn vehicles. A clear announcement, which was already based on a ruling by the Oldenburg Higher Regional Court, which decided in 2014 that being a coachman is subject to the same requirements as driving a car (anwalts-suchservice.de).

Alcohol consumption and legal consequences

It is also interesting that, in contrast to coach drivers, there is no set legal alcohol limit for riders. However, driving license authorities can take action if riders are driving under the influence of alcohol. At riding tournaments, however, there is a limit of 0.5 per mille. Another notable detail from the case law is that exon was stopped by the police with a blood alcohol level of 1.98 without him apparently driving in serpentine lines or showing any other signs of failure. This example clearly shows what gray areas and challenges there are in this area (cd-anwaltskanzlei.de).

For carriages, which are increasingly disappearing from everyday life today, but are still popular as a hobby, traffic law is unambiguous: carriage drivers are under no circumstances allowed to drive while intoxicated. This ruling has far-reaching consequences, and the danger posed by a carriage is considered to be greater than that posed by a bicycle. It is also argued that carriage drivers must be constantly alert, making the driving skill requirements comparable to those of a car driver. The slower speed of carriages is not considered relevant, as the need for quick reactions and the use of voice and lines are also important (anwalts-suchservice.de).

The current events in Bahnsdorf show once again how important it is to maintain safety standards in road traffic. Coach drivers should be particularly careful not to exceed alcohol limits so as not to endanger not only themselves but also other road users. It is a great responsibility to show the appropriate care when handling your team, because after all, the fun of driving a carriage can quickly turn into a serious problem if the rules are ignored.