Traffic whistle-blowing scheme to be extended across country

MOTORISTS are being asked to blow the whistle on those who drive dangerously, speed or litter, under a programme piloted in the south-east which is going nationwide.

The Traffic Watch programme, set up in Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and parts of Wicklow, is being extended across the country. For the past two years, motorists have been phoning a hotline to report dangerous, reckless driving or bad behaviour on roads.

Calls are being received at Thomastown Garda Station, Co Kilkenny. Training for other officers has taken place and regional centres are being set up in Birr, Mallow, Tuam, Carrick-on-Shannon and Harcourt Square.

In its first two years in operation in the south east, close to 8,000 calls have been logged. More than 500 motorists were cautioned and dozens have been brought before the courts and prosecuted as a result.

There have been bans and endorsements for drink driving under the scheme where motorists reported others driving dangerously or leaving pubs drunk. There were also prosecutions for aggressive and reckless driving.

Fines have ranged from €100 to €300.

Garda Inspector Mick Millea, who has headed the scheme since its inception, said Traffic Watch had been hugely successful and gardaí have been inundated with calls from motorists and the general public.

“People have not been afraid to appear in court to bring about prosecutions under the scheme and so far it is working well,” he said.

The majority of the cases involved drink driving. Since the scheme was launched in the south-east two years ago, road deaths have been cut from an average of 80 to 54.