In the first three months of random drink-testing the number of people detected driving while over the legal limit for alcohol has increased by 54 per cent, Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of traffic Eddie Rock has disclosed.
Speaking at the launch of the National Road Safety Authority's Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign he said that 30,000 drivers a month were now being tested.
In the three months of August, September and October, following the introduction of random testing, the provisional statistics showed that 4,898 people had been detected with excess alcohol. This was an increase of 1,720 or 54 per cent.
"Tragically, there is still a cohort of drivers who continue to consume alcohol and drive. They demonstrate a total disregard for themselves and others whom they may kill or seriously injure as a consequence of their irresponsible action.
"However, we are breath testing in the region of 30,000 drivers every month so these drivers can take it their days are numbered," the assistant com- missioner said.
Research produced at the launch showed that alcohol was a contributory factor in 37 per cent of all fatal crashes and a factor in 62 per cent of single vehicle crashes in 2003. The figures emerged from the first ever study into the role of alcohol in fatal road crashes in Ireland.
Others from the study showed that almost a quarter of drivers killed had under the legal level of alcohol and that 90 per cent of the drivers where alcohol was a contributory factor to their death were males.
The chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne, said that the study into the blood alcohol levels of road crash victims had confirmed our worst fears. Alcohol played a significant role in road deaths in this country.
"I have to acknowledge the fact that the Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen, has provided life-saving legislation to tackle this chronic drink-driving behaviour. That legislation, or rather the enforcement of that legislation, is saving lives," he said.
"In the four months since the introduction of mandatory alcohol testing we estimate that over 30 lives have been saved."
The Minister for Transport told the launch that while drink-driving was not acceptable at any time of the year it was appropriate that people should be particularly conscious of the dangers of drink-driving during the Christmas period.
"This is a time when there tends to be more social activity. It is a traditional celebratory time with thousands of extra journeys being made by car. Unfortunately it can also be a time of great pain and sorrow.
"I would urge all those travelling over the season to exercise vigilance and care and to not drink and drive. We can all have a safe Christmas on the roads if only we obey the law," Mr Cullen said.
