Gardaí claim drink driving clampdown success

SENIOR gardaí have claimed a crackdown on drink driving this year has resulted in an 18% increase in the number of people arrested on suspicion of driving over the legal limit.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said 3,395 people were detected for suspected drink driving in the first three months of 2006, compared to 2,883 during the same period last year. Over 14,400 motorists have also been issued with fines for speeding since the extension of the penalty points system in early April. A further 1,895 people were caught driving without a seat belt.

Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport yesterday, Mr Conroy said gardaí were no longer merely cautioning people for the non-wearing of seat belts.