The number of detections for drink-driving in the Republic is twenty times below what it should be if the problem is to be successfully tackled, the National Safety Council claimed today.
Speaking at the launch of the Council’s annual report, Chairman Mr Eddie Shaw, said: "Drunk drivers claimed the lives of 166 people and injured a further 3,600 last year."
|
"So why is it that the number of detections for drinking and driving is so ridiculously low - especially when compared to over 200,000 detections for speeding?" Mr Shaw asked.
He said the current level of enforcement is insufficient to change the attitude and behaviour of people in relation to the offence.
"If the Government is really committed to solving the problem of drink-driving in Ireland then the number of Garda interventions leading to detections for the offence must be increased drastically - up to 20 times the current level."
Mr Shaw recommended the Government consider the introduction of random breath testing.
He said the Garda enforcement capability is being hindered due to a lack of resources and limitations in the current legislation.
"Solving the problem of drink driving requires enforcement in large volumes. We need to see over 500 detections per day compared to the 28 being made at present", he added.
Commenting on the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, which will conclude at the end 2002, Mr Shaw said: "The success of the strategy has been seen through a reduced number of crashes, lives saved and serious injury prevented".
However he warned "It is imperative that the next Road Safety Strategy does not meet with the serious barriers to implementation encountered by its predecessor."
He said if Government’s next Road Safety Strategy is properly implemented it could reduce the incidence of crashes and the related incidence of deaths and serious injuries by up to 50 per cent.
