During the summer, especially around mountain holidays, more traffic accidents occur than at any other time of the year. For over 25 years, MHF has been present at locations along Swedish roads, offering coffee and informing travelers about the importance of taking breaks and driving safely through the Take a Break campaign. This year’s theme is tips on reporting drink-driving and drugs in traffic.

Take a Break at rest areas across Sweden

MHF (the Swedish Abstaining Motorists’ Association) is a non-profit road safety organization working to ensure that no one dies due to drink-driving. With the Take a Break road safety campaign, MHF encourages all road users to take regular breaks during their journey and informs about hazards and distractions in traffic. MHF’s volunteers are stationed at rest areas throughout Sweden in June, July, August, and September.

This year’s focus is on tips about reporting drink-driving and the issue of drugs in traffic. The number of drunk drivers apprehended after tips from the public has decreased by 90 percent over the past 20 years. At the same time, MHF hears powerful stories about families affected when innocent members are killed or seriously injured because someone drove under the influence.

“Through this year’s Take a Break campaign, MHF wants to encourage people to show more civic courage and report suspected drunk drivers to the police,” says Anna Welleman, MHF’s project manager for Take a Break.

Driving ability is still strongly affected the day after drinking. This means your driving ability can be reduced by about 20 percent the next day, even if the alcohol should have left your system and you don’t feel hungover.

Alcohol and drugs are a major problem in traffic. In 2024, drink-driving accidents accounted for 25 percent of all road fatalities—out of a total of 210 deaths on the roads. The number of people seriously injured in such accidents is much higher.

“Swedes have a stronger basic understanding of the risks of alcohol in traffic than they do about narcotics. There is still a fair amount of ignorance and naivety regarding cannabis and other drugs,” says Tomas Jonsson, MHF’s road safety expert.

The aim of the 2025 Take a Break campaign is to get more drivers to reflect on the risks of drugs in traffic, show civic courage, report drink-driving to the police, and consider the impact on driving ability the day after drinking.

Find more from MHF (Sweden, July 2025)