Random tests mark drink-drive crackdown

Motorists were facing random breath-testing at checkpoints across the country today as a garda drink-driving crackdown got under way.

Checkpoints were being established under Operation Surround, which began at midnight last night and runs until midnight on Monday, in a bid to save lives over the notoriously deadly bank holiday weekend.

Supt Kevin Donohoe said: “What we are doing is targeting towns and urban areas throughout the whole of the country, with a specific emphasis obviously on licensed premises. The whole focus of this weekend is drink-driving but obviously any other offences that are detected will be dealt with.”

Random breath-testing, one of a number of new powers which came into place in July under the Road Traffic Act 2006, will be carried out at the checkpoints.

The superintendent warned that people who continue to drink and drive may kill or injure themselves or others, as well as facing the possibility of arrest and conviction.

An average of 344 people are detected drink-driving every week, with alcohol playing a factor in almost half of all road deaths.

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year, three people lost their lives in road smashes and 12 people involved in collisions were arrested for drink-driving offences. On the same weekend in 2000, there were 12 deaths arising from nine fatal crashes.