Drink-driving checkpoints sees rise in arrests
Arrests are expected to rise further after gardaí announced that from tomorrow they are going to mount dedicated drink- driving checkpoints in several towns around the region.
It will be mandatory for motorists to provide breath samples and the checkpoints will be mounted in the mornings, at lunchtime and in the evenings.
In excess of 1,750 people have been arrested for the offence in the Cork, Kerry and Limerick region so far this year, and the number of fatal accidents is way up.
Last year there were 28 accidents in the region which resulted in 29 deaths.
“This year in the region we have 39 accidents with 45 fatalities,” said Inspector Billy Duane, who heads up the region’s traffic corps.
Insp Duane said gardaí are making no apology for getting even tougher on drink driving.
The majority of those killed have been in the 20-25 age bracket, which is being put down to a lack of motoring experience. Gardaí have also noticed a rise in the number of younger people who are getting caught drink driving.
“The age profile for drink driving is also dropping. A lot of them (those arrested) are people in their late 20s and early 30s,” the inspector added. In previous years, the average person caught over the limit was male and middle-aged.
“Gardaí are out there trying to prevent loss of life and serious injury. People are not heeding the message on drink driving and road safety in general. Slowing down and wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of serious injury,” Insp Duane said.
Before the smell of alcohol or slurred speech was required for gardaí to breathalyse a motorist, but under new legislation, no indications are necessary.
Insp Duane said that, as well as testing ordinary motorists, taxi drivers and bus drivers would also be tested.
“A number of towns will be selected for mandatory breath-testing checkpoints by chief superintendents within each region. A major drive will start on Friday. Mandatory breath-testing will become a daily feature from now on,” Insp Duane added.
More resources are being given to the traffic corps in Cork, Kerry and Limerick in an effort to enhance road safety. Last month, in excess of 4,700 on-the-spot fines were issued to motorists for offences such as not having a seat belt on, speeding and obstruction.
480: Cork city
320: North Cork
240: West Cork
360: Limerick
350: Kerry.
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