Anti-drink driving campaign launched

AN estimated 45 people will die and more than 200 people face serious injury on the roads before Christmas, the National Safety Council (NSC) has warned.

Launching its festive season anti-drink driving campaign yesterday, the NSC estimated that alcohol will account for 16 road deaths and 80 serious injuries.

The launch followed the news that from December 1 gardaí will be entitled, under new legislation, to demand a breath test from any motorist who has committed a traffic offence without first having to form an opinion they are drunk.

Based on previous Christmas campaigns, 1,500 drivers are likely to be arrested for drink driving However, the detection of drink-driving in Ireland remains the lowest in the EU.

Statistics show that Ireland is one of just five EU countries without full random drink driving tests, and only two per cent of drives are tested annually compared to 22% in Sweden.

An analysis of road safety improvements in the EU has ranked drink-driving enforcement here as the poorest in Europe.

But NSC chairman Eddie Shaw said yesterday the increased Garda powers would help save more lives.

“Over the past 12 months we have seen evidence of a sustained change in behaviour on our roads, which has resulted in 76 lives saved and over 340 injuries avoided. The primary cause of this behaviour change was the introduction of the penalty points system,” Mr Shaw said.

“The reason for introducing these new Garda powers is to achieve further sustained changes in behaviour in relation to drink driving,” he said. The campaign also has the backing of the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF).

IIF vice-president Paul Donaldson said the new powers must be supported by more check-points on the roads.

“The Transport Minister will, as he has already proven, continue to adopt appropriate legislation.

“It must however, be backed up by sustained, year round enforcement if the behaviour of road users who habitually break road traffic law is to change,” Mr Donaldson said.

The NSC will soon begin broadcasting the anti-drink driving TV commercial “Shame”, which shows the tragic consequences of drink driving.

Yesterday’s launch was carried out by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.