Gardai have reported a 17 per cent rise in the number of motorists arrested for drink-driving over Christmas and the new year compared with the previous corresponding period. However, the number of road deaths fell over the festive period. The latest monthly figures show that in December, 22 people died on the roads compared with 37 in 2001.
The highest number of drink-driving arrests were made in the Louth/Meath Garda division followed by Dublin South and Dublin North. The fewest arrests were made in Clare and Limerick.
Between November 25th and January 5th, gardaí made 1,449 drink-driving arrests compared with 1,238 during last year's new year road safety campaign, meaning 241 drivers were arrested every week during the festive period, 11 drivers a week more than the weekly average for all of 2001.
The National Safety Council said the increase in the number of arrests may have resulted from higher levels of activity by gardaí. The council's chief executive, Mr Pat Costello, said many motorists were still "taking a risk with drink-driving".
"Potentially all of those arrested could have been involved in a fatal accident while they were drink-driving," he said. "While the number of fatalities was down over the period, the message still needs to be hammered home that if you are drinking don't drive and if you are driving, don't drink".
The council warned late last year that despite perceptions to the contrary, there had been no fall off in the level of drink-driving in the State. In an international comparison of alcohol-related road fatalities prepared by the council, Ireland fared worst of those countries surveyed.
With a population of 3.8 million, there were 160 alcohol-related deaths in Ireland per annum in recent years, while in the state of Victoria in Australia, which has a population of 3.9 million, there were just 62 deaths. In Sweden, with a population of 8.9 million, more than double Ireland's, there were 150 alcohol-related deaths, 10 fewer than in Ireland.
In 2000, Ireland had the second-highest level of consumption of alcohol in the EU, behind only Luxembourg.
