Road deaths - People are not getting the message
Speed and drink are the two greatest contributory factors to most road accidents.
When the penalty points system was introduced in an effort to promote road safety in 2002, it initially had a dramatic impact, but this gradually wore off.
Random breath-testing was introduced last year, but the figures for arrests on our roads over the long weekend would seem to suggest that many people are not getting the message that society no longer has any tolerance for impaired driving.
The Road Safety Authority and gardaí appealed to drivers to take care on the roads over the holiday weekend. Drinkers were warned not to drive and drivers not to drink, but 207 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink driving after failing breath tests between mid- morning on Saturday and the same time on Sunday.
An alarming number of people are obviously ready to take the chance that they will get away with driving after alcohol. In the process they are not only endangering themselves but also everybody else.
It was unrealistic for anyone to think that random breath testing would promptly eliminate drink driving. People need to be convinced, however, that driving with excess alcohol is not worth the risk, because they will more than likely be caught.
If this does not stop such reckless anti- social behaviour, the penalties should be increased.
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