SANTA COLOMA DE GRAMENET – Officers from the Policia Local have reported a van driver for a series of dangerous driving offences after he was spotted swerving through traffic, running a red light, and steering with one hand while holding a can of beer in the other.

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The incident occurred in the Raval neighbourhood of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a city bordering Barcelona to the north. According to a report by Catalan news outlet El Caso, police on a routine preventative patrol witnessed a white Peugeot Expert van weaving erratically down the major thoroughfare, Avinguda de la Generalitat.

Concerned by the clear danger the driver posed to other vehicles and pedestrians, the officers began to follow the van. They then watched as the driver failed to stop at a red traffic light, proceeding through the junction without regard for other road users’ right of way.

A Beer at the Wheel

As the patrol car drew alongside the vehicle to signal the driver to pull over, officers were met with an astonishing sight. The man was driving with only one hand on the steering wheel; his other held a can of beer, which he was consuming while driving.

The police eventually stopped the van safely. They noted significant damage on the vehicle, with several dents and deep scratches visible on its rear panels. When speaking with the driver, officers observed clear and evident symptoms of alcohol influence.

A subsequent breathalyser test confirmed their suspicions, returning a positive result. Police formally reported the driver (whose age and nationality were not disclosed) for an alleged crime against road safety (delito contra la seguridad vial).

Strict Penalties for Drink-Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious criminal offence in Spain. Spanish law, supported by Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) guidelines, states that a breath alcohol concentration exceeding 0.60 mg/l is automatically a criminal matter, moving beyond administrative fines. Penalties for such offences can be severe, including imprisonment from three to six months, substantial fines, community service, and a driving licence suspension lasting from one to four years.

This incident is the latest in a series of concerning road safety violations in and around Barcelona. It highlights the ongoing challenges local police face in tackling reckless road behaviour. Recent cases have included a man caught on an electric scooter at over 90km/h while under the influence, and an elderly driver who crashed into a canal with an alcohol level seven times the legal limit.

The Policia Local in Santa Coloma remains active in the community, recently dealing with incidents ranging from a violent daylight assault on an elderly woman to the recovery of a scooter that was stolen three years prior. This latest traffic intervention underscores their commitment to removing dangerous drivers from the city’s streets.