Time to tackle real road safety issues

REGARDING the new alcohol limits, we have become so obsessed with drink-driving that common sense has been replaced by urban myths.

Everyone knows that being drunk has an adverse effect on driving, but the effect of alcohol varies enormously between individuals. Some become woozy after a few sips and others are totally unaffected by several pints. But if they can function normally in every possible way, it is plain stupid to claim they are unfit to drive. Before the advent of the breathalyser, police assessment was, quite sensibly, based on tests, slurred speech, the ability to walk straight and balance on one leg with the eyes closed.

Instead of measuring blood alcohol, a machine should be used to test reaction time, eyesight and other factors which affect ability to drive. This would also test for the effects of drugs, tiredness and any other impairment. We now have the insane situation that someone who is sober but over the limit and whose driving is impeccable is treated far more harshly than someone who kills through deliberate reckless driving.

Police resources would be better spent apprehending those whose driving is actually dangerous, e.g. excess speed or blind overtaking, than trawling for those who might pose a possible risk. No-one knows how many accidents are caused by alcohol, least of all the RSA. However, everyone agrees that the vast majority of accidents are caused by bad driving, so there is no excuse for not tackling the real issues, and for using alcohol as an avoidance strategy. Drink-driving is really a car-dependency problem; without public transport we are forced to drive even if we are tired, ill or unfit for any other reason.

The RSA fails to understand that danger cannot be measured by casualty rates; behaviour is the confounding factor. Traffic speeds have increased, even on unimproved roads, so it is nonsense to say roads have become safer.

Vulnerable road user casualties have declined because far fewer people walk or cycle, but fatalities per mile have increased considerably. Collectively, there is nothing accidental about road carnage; it is the price we willingly pay for the convenience of motoring.

The failure to charge motorists with both internal and externalised costs has bankrupted the county, sabotaged public transport, and put our future in jeopardy from the energy crunch and global warming.

Michael Job

Glengarriff

Co Cork