‘Drink driving is a dangerous gamble’

DRINK-DRIVERS are playing Russian roulette with their own lives and the lives of others, it was claimed yesterday.

Martin Cullen, Transport Minister, said that while attitudes were improving there was still no excuse for getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

The Minister called on older generations to take the lead from young people who refused to even consider drinking and driving.

“As with many issues, many younger people have set an example that others can follow,” Mr Cullen said. “Young people, on the whole, have adopted a very responsible and mature attitude on the issue. All generations can learn from this approach.”

The National Safety Council’s Christmas anti-drink driving campaign launched in Dublin yesterday called on revellers to “Never, Ever drink and drive.”

Campaigners also warned party-goers that taking to the roads the morning after could be just as dangerous, with blood alcohol levels over the limit. Coffee would not solve the problem, they said.

Research published at the launch showed almost half of all those killed in crashes in Cavan, Louth and Monaghan in 2001 and 2002 had alcohol in their system.

The study by Dr Declan Bedford of the North Eastern Health Board found that out of 55 drivers, passengers and pedestrians killed on roads in the three border counties, 22 or 40% had alcohol in their blood samples.

All drivers detected with alcohol were male.

Eddie Shaw, NSC chairman, said the disturbing report proved the country had a chronic problem with anti-social behaviour - much of it alcohol fuelled.

“Drunken driving and drunk pedestrians are just two examples of this behaviour where the consequences can be catastrophic,” Mr Shaw said.

“And NSC research shows an overwhelming majority of people in Ireland support tougher enforcement action to reduce the catastrophic loss of life caused by drink driving.”

It is hoped a special poster campaign aimed at people socialising over the Christmas period and the TV commercial “Shame” will spearhead moves to end drink-driving once and for all. It is also hoped the 1,200-strong Garda Traffic Corps will be a significant step in efforts to tackle drink driving.

A total of 334 people have died on our roads so far this year compared with 311 in the same period last year, an increase of 23 deaths.

Drinking and driving

The number of arrests for drink-driving offences:

2003 - 11,344.

2002 - 13,441.

The number of convictions for drink-driving offences:

2003 - 3,060.

2002 - 5,212.

In 2003, 89% of those convicted were male, with 11% female. The vast majority of the total number of convictions were by men aged 21 and over.

Source: Garda Annual Report 2003.