Belgium BOB campaign sees record alcohol tests during summer

The 2026 BOB summer campaign in Belgium, an initiative by the Vias Institute in collaboration with local and federal police, has concluded with a record number of alcohol tests conducted. Across the twelve-week period from June to September, authorities administered 563,913 alcohol tests.

In the Politiezone Grens region, covering Essen, Kalmthout, and Wuustwezel, police performed 14,824 controls, marking a 10.6 percent increase from the previous summer. While the overall positive or alert rate for the campaign was 0.60 percent, weekend nights showed a significantly higher risk. During weekend night checks in this zone, 3.84 percent of drivers tested positive or alert, a rate more than six times the campaign average.

The Federal Police noted a continuing downward trend in impaired driving over recent years, describing the results as a positive evolution, though they cautioned that a minority of drivers continue to ignore safety messages.