Drunk bus driver causes chaos on the highway: public prosecutor's office investigates!

Drunk bus driver causes chaos on the highway: public prosecutor's office investigates!

In an alarming incident on Autobahn 24, two articulated buses crashed during rail replacement service. Loud Northern Courier A bus driver in Ludwigslust was taken off the road with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.46 per mille. This happened after witnesses observed the bus traveling in a snaking pattern. The public prosecutor's office has already initiated initial investigations.

The incident sheds a bright light on the current situation in rail replacement transport, which is being organized by Ecovista during the nine-stage general renovation of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line. A company spokeswoman described the driver's behavior as "unacceptable" and regretted the events. The safety aspect of passengers is of utmost importance to Ecovista. In order to avoid such incidents in the future, the company plans to introduce mandatory daily alcohol tests for all drivers before starting work.

Drinking alcohol at work

The incident not only represents an individual problem, but also opens up the discussion about healthy alcohol consumption in the workplace. How jurarat explains, employers may not order alcohol or drug tests without the employee's consent. A corresponding duty of care is undisputed, but there are no general laws that prohibit alcohol in the workplace. Companies have to decide for themselves whether to ban alcohol.

A general ban on alcohol during working hours can be stipulated in company agreements. In the case of alcohol abuse, employees face warnings or dismissal. A reasonable suspicion of alcohol abuse justifies technical controls. However, in such situations, employers should obtain the consent of employees to be legally on the safe side.

Consequences for companies

The problem of alcohol abuse can also be traced back to the increasing number of alcohol-related absences. According to one AOK statistics from 2024, 40% of addiction-related absences in Germany were due to alcohol consumption. This makes it clear that companies are required to take preventive measures and raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Especially in the current situation, in which the recruitment of drivers is already difficult due to the shortage of skilled workers, attention must be paid to the safety and well-being of employees. The responsible authorities, such as the Ministry of Transport in Schwerin, have recognized the urgency and are calling for the incident to be clarified quickly. Attention is drawn to the legal consequences, which can be far-reaching for both drivers and companies.

Overall, it remains to be seen what measures Ecovista and other companies will take in the future to ensure traffic safety and minimize alcohol-related incidents. One thing is certain: passenger safety is our top priority!