80 lives saved on roads since random breath testing introduced

AT LEAST 80 lives have been saved since the roll-out of random breath testing on Irish roads nearly a year ago.

Following the June bank holiday weekend, in which four people died in collisions, new figures show mandatory alcohol testing has prevented dozens of deaths.

Gardaí began randomly testing motorists on July 21 last year. In the 11 months since, there have been 274 deaths, 80 fewer than the same previous 11-month period.

Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) say testing has helped reduce fatalities but enforcement on roads is also playing a part.

Assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock with the Garda Traffic Bureau said it was a welcome trend.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett put the success in saving lives down to high-profile awareness campaigns as well as random breath testing. He noted that most drink driving or motorbike deaths were down to men consuming alcohol, adding “weekends are the worst time for alcohol-related fatal crashes”.

The RSA said that not only were deaths prevented by alcohol testing but tens of millions of euro of taxpayers’ and private individuals’ money were saved.

“Decreases in road deaths also benefited the economy. The cost of a fatal collisionis estimated at €2,280,000. Therefore, 80 road fatalities prevented may have resulted in a financial saving of €176 million.”

The financial savings are based on a 2004 report by Goodbody Economic Consultants. This breaks down the cost of a road accidents, taking into account the loss of their contribution to the economy due to death or injury, other costs such as hospital and medical costs, damage to property, police time andinsurance costs.

Meanwhile, gardaí have welcomed figures from last month which show the lowest level of fatalities recorded for any May, with 21 deaths.

Furthermore, 142 people have lost their lives on roads to date this year but this is a decrease of 34 from the corresponding period last year.

Road safety officials last night pointed out that many serious injuries had also been avoided.

The new figures indicate over 600 people have avoided being maimed. For each fatality on the roads approximately eight people suffer serious injuries, an RSA statement said.