New law sees fewer tests for drink driving

Gardaí tested 70,000 fewer motorists for drink-driving offences last year, despite an overall increase in the number of checkpoints.

Figures compiled by An Garda Síochána indicate that new drink-driving legislation, which has created different limits depending on the type of licence a driver holds, is having a negative impact on the number of motorists tested for driving above legal blood-alcohol limits.

Official Garda figures show there was a 13% reduction in the number of mandatory alcohol tests conducted on motorists in 2012 — down just over 70,000 to 469,102.

The decrease in breathalyser tests occurred despite almost a 2% increase in the number of roadside checkpoints — up almost 1,100 to 71,960 tests.

However, gardaí claim the large reduction in the number of tests for drink-driving is largely attributable to new legislation which created different legal alcohol limits for professional, learner, and novice drivers compared to full-licence holders.

Such motorists are now obliged to conform with a lower limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, compared to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for motorists with a full licence.

Gardaí claim the lower number of mandatory alcohol tests carried out in 2012 is the result of the extra time needed to ascertain from motorists which kind of licence they have.

“The amount of time spent checking on a driver’s licence at checkpoints can vary considerably,” said a Garda spokesperson. “Some people can produce it instantly, while others can be rummaging around in glove compartments or bags for several minutes.”

The spokesman pointed out that breathalysers also have to be altered depending on which category of driver has to be tested.

“The duration of checkpoints can also vary as word can travel quickly via texts and social media where we are located,” said the Garda spokesperson.

Official Garda figures indicate an average of 6.5 tests were carried out on motorists at each checkpoint in 2012 compared to 7.6 tests the previous year and 9.8 tests in 2010.

A total of 9,365 motorists were recorded with blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit last year — down 1,214, or 11.5%, on 2011 figures.

On average, about 2% of all motorists who took a mandatory alcohol test in 2012 were found to be over the legal drink-driving limit.

Garda figures also show 224,937 motorists were fined for speeding last year as a result of enforcement by gardaí and GoSafe speed cameras — down almost 38,000 or 14.4%.