Drink driving - Outright ban may be the only answer

GIVEN the Christmas blitz against the scourge of drink driving, a crack-down launched by gardaí in a blaze of publicity, it defies credulity that more than 100 motorists have been arrested at the height of the festive season.

It is moot whether the country’s drink-driving malaise is down to recklessness or sheer stupidity, the stark reality is that people up and down the country are flouting the law every night of the week. This despite tougher garda enforcement of legislation aimed at reducing the appalling carnage on Ireland’s roads.

According to provisional statistics from the Garda press office, 51 incidents of suspected drink driving offences were recorded on Wednesday alone, topping up the 50 who failed breath tests on St Stephen’s Day and Christmas Day when they were stopped at garda check points.