Belgian Star Tom waes Fronts New Campaign Against Drunk Driving Following Personal Incident
Antwerp, Belgium – Actor and television presenter Tom Waes, known for the popular series Undercover, is lending his face to a new public awareness campaign aimed at curbing drunk driving in Belgium, following a highly publicized incident last November. The campaign, titled “There are no excuses,” features a video showcasing the dangers of driving under the influence, culminating in a stark image of Waes’ damaged Porsche after a collision in the Kennedy tunnel in Antwerp.
Waes, who registered a blood alcohol level of 2.44 per mille – considerably exceeding Belgium’s legal limit of 0.5 per mille – caused a single-vehicle accident. He received a three-month driving ban in May,along with a mandatory one-year alcolock installation,a fine,and a requirement to retake his driving tests. In the campaign video, Waes candidly admits, “I think my excuse was: ‘I’ll get there.'”
The initiative comes as sobering statistics reveal the prevalence of alcohol-related traffic incidents in Belgium. According to the traffic institute Vias, at least ten accidents occur daily due to alcohol or drug impairment, frequently resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. A Vias study also found that nearly one in five Belgian drivers admit to driving with perhaps excessive alcohol levels at least once a month.
Waes recently expressed his desire to move past the public discussion surrounding the incident, but is participating in the campaign to leverage his experience and contribute to a vital public safety message. The “There are no excuses” campaign aims to dismantle justifications for drunk driving and underscore the potentially devastating consequences.
