Crackdown on drink driving launched

An anti-drink driving campaign is to be launched today to cut down on road deaths over the festive season.

Alcohol is a factor is around 40% of all fatal road accidents and more than 9,000 drivers have been arrested for drink-driving so far this year.

The National Safety Council has created a new awareness campaign, ‘Just One’ which is supported by AXA insurance.

Levels of drink driving are traditionally highest at Christmas despite increased Garda checkpoints.

The new campaign will be launched by Transport Minister Martin Cullen at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin at 11am.

The Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and the Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Paul Leighton, will also be in attendance in another sign of the increasing co-operation between the two police forces.