Freiburg driving lesson ends in crash as drunk instructor flees scene

By Olivia Logan

An extremely drunk driving instructor has been arrested by police in Freiburg after crashing a car mid-lesson, fleeing the scene and abandoning his pupil.

Drunk driving instructor leaves pupil in traffic accident

A driving lesson ended in disaster in Freiburg after a drunk instructor caused a traffic accident and abandoned his pupil.

During the lesson, the inebriated instructor crashed into another car at a crossing, causing light injuries to his pupil and the driver of the other car. The instructor then abandoned his pupil and fled the scene, using the learner vehicle as a getaway car.

Police discover empty bottles in driving lesson car

Shortly after the instructor fled, police found him on the grounds of Freiburg University Hospital. Following a breathalyser test, he was discovered to have a blood alcohol level of 2,47 - about the equivalent of multiple bottles of spirit alcohol. 

Under German law, drivers can face fines of up to 500 euros, two points on their licence and a month-long driving ban if they are found to have a blood alcohol level over 0,05. If drivers are found to have a blood alcohol level over 1,6 they must be medically and psychologically examined.

After searching the driving instructor’s car, police found multiple empty alcohol bottles. “This is a one-off case,” reassured Peter Lob from Freiburg’s Driving Instructor Association, but made a more broad criticism that the criteria for allocating a driving instructor permit are seldom reviewed.

For the driving instructor in question, a fine in the low five-figure range is on the cards, alongside surrendering his driving licence.

Thumb image credit: karanik yimpat / Shutterstock.com

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Olivia Logan

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for Germany at IamExpat Media. Olivia first came to Germany in 2013 to work as an Au Pair. Since studying English Literature and German in Scotland, Freiburg and Berlin she has worked as a features journalist and news editor.Read more

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