Byrne favours more enforcement over lower blood/alcohol limit

Chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne has said that he would favour greater enforcement of existing drink driving legislation rather than the lowering of the blood/alcohol limit, according to reports this morning.

His comments come on the day that a freedom of information request by Fine Gael spokesperson on Transport Fergus O’Dowd revealed correspondence from the Department of Health to the Department of Transport which expressed disappointment at legislation to reduce the blood alcohol limit not being included as part of the Government's road safety initiative

Provisional figures released yesterday showed that in the week to December 24, 357 tested people were detected as being over the drink-driving limit, while in the week from December 24-31, this fell to 301 detections.

The Department of Transport has asked the Road Safety Authority to advise on whether such a move is useful in the campaign against drink-driving and Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey is expected to receive a report on the issue within weeks.