Letters to the Editor: More random breath testing will reduce fatalities

In 1982, I was involved in the commencement and subsequent enforcement of Random Breath Testing (RBT) in NSW, Australia. At that time, a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was an influencing factor in about 30% of road fatalities. In 2021, positive BAC accounted for 17% of road fatalities — the RBT programme appeared to have almost halved the rate of drink-driving fatalities according to government data.

Looking at the situation in Ireland, I refer to the RSA report dated May 2023 titled ‘Contributing Factors and Driver Fatalities: Examining key Dangerous Behaviours’. It reports that of 37% of driver fatalities, where the deceased was subject to a toxicology test, a positive BAC was recorded. Interestingly, the report shows that in 26% of driver fatalities (where speed was identified at the time of the event), excessive speed was an influencing factor. In other words, drink-driving arguably accounted for almost a third more fatalities than speeding.