© europics.at

25. 11. 09. - 13:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

25. 11. 09. - 13:00

Car drink-driving device considered

By Thomas Hochwarter

Convicted drink drivers may be forced to fit special breathalysers in their cars under new plans unveiled by the Infrastructure and Traffic Minister yesterday (Tues).

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Minister Doris Bures said a pilot project for "risk drivers" was being considered.

The system – in which special breathalysers are fitted in cars which drivers must blow into before they can start their car engine - is already in action in Sweden while Belgium and Spain are running pilot projects.

Othmar Thann, Director of the Austrian Committee for Traffic Safety (KfV), said he hoped insurance companies as well as car clubs Arbö and ÖAMTC would support the plan.

But Arbö officials have suggested first seeing whether a recently introduced traffic safety package – including a list of stricter rules and higher fines for driving offences – is a success.

Austrian Times

Higher cigarette prices on tap
Austria Tabak reported today (Fri) that the price of its 35 brands of cigarettes would increase by 10 to 20 cents a pack at the end of March.

RI's Croat subsidiary gets €30mn credit
Raiffeisen International’s (RI) Croatian subsidiary Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d. received a 30-million-Euro credit by the German Investment and Development Society (DEG), it was announced.

Austrian Catholics turn on church
Austrian Roman Catholics are up in arms over sex scandals involving local priests and children with increasing numbers threatening to quit the church.

Wolford's earnings up in first three quarters
Vorarlberg textile firm Wolford reported today (Fri) that its earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) had increased in the first three quarters of its 2009/2010 business year.

More foreign holidays planned this year
More Austrians are planning on holidays abroad this year after 2009 saw a drop in numbers, according to a study by public opinion research agency Karmasin.

Siemens Austria to lay off 500 to 600
Siemens Austria said today (Fri) it would lay off 500 to 600 of 2,000 workers in software division SIS (IT solutions and services) in the near future.

Graz police smash drug ring
An Iranian asylum seeker thought to be the boss of a drug-dealing gang has been arrested along with 11 cohorts, police said today (Fri).

Verbund could lose interest in French Poweo
Austrian energy provider Verbund’s 46 per cent interest in French electricity provider Poweo may become less valuable if the firm makes good on its threat to stop providing service to end customers.

Kasabian roll into Vienna
British indie rock giants Kasabian will return to Austria this summer, it has been revealed.

Paraglider crashes against bus
A 34-year-old paraglider escaped with bruises after smashing into a moving bus in Eben, Tyrol, yesterday (Thurs).