One-third of Irish road deaths drink-related

IRELAND has one of the highest levels of drink-driving deaths in Europe, but up to now the authorities have failed to collect official statistics.

A report just released by European Transport Safety Council says more than a quarter of road deaths in the country involved a driver who was drinking and three quarters of those drivers were over the legal limit.

The figures are based on a doctor’s study of coroners’ and other reports held by gardaí into fatal accidents in three counties, in 2003.