Campaign highlights drink-drive 'Shame' message

Drink-drivers are playing Russian roulette with their own lives and the lives of others, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen warned at the launch of the Christmas drink-driving blitz.

Drink-drivers are playing Russian roulette with their own lives and the lives of others, it was claimed today.

Martin Cullen, Minister for Transport, 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 today called on revellers to “Never, ever drink and drive”.

And 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 claimed.

New 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 new 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 Irish roads so far this year compared with 311 in the same period last year, an increase of 23 deaths.

Since the beginning of the year, 141 drivers, 81 passengers, 53 pedestrians, 49 motorcyclists and 10 pedal cyclists have died in fatal accidents.