Former Fianna Fáil minister Jim McDaid sent a deplorable signal to the public during the week when he was arrested for drink driving. He will face the full rigours of the law. And the electorate of Donegal North East will pass judgment on his behaviour at a later stage. Unfortunately, such anti-social action is not untypical. Drink driving is a common offence. But it need not be so.
Motorists respond to the threat of detection and prosecution. After the introduction of the penalty points system, two years ago, the incidence of road deaths and injuries fell sharply. But when the Government failed to invest in the manpower and equipment needed to operate the system effectively, bad old habits reappeared.
Irish road safety is a bad and dangerous joke. When the Taoiseach of the country can stand up in the Dáil and blandly accept that it may take between two and eight months to repair the wooden housing for a speed camera, we are in serious trouble.
And when less than a handful of those boxes actually contain a functioning camera, it amounts to political and administrative incompetence. Such a dysfunctional system encourages motorists to ignore speed limits and break the law. It all contributes to a rising death toll.
The Taoiseach admitted that 86 per cent of road deaths are caused by driver behaviour. But, rather than address the reasons for this awful situation and the abject failure of the Government's own road safety strategy, Mr Ahern merely commented that significant amounts of money had been spent on improving roads and facilities for drivers.
It is not good enough. There are simply too few gardaí to carry out the duties required of them. Population growth has raced ahead of Garda recruitment while, at the same time, they are expected to police a range of new legislation.
Our politicians are very good at passing laws, but very poor at providing the finance, the manpower and the public leadership to enforce them. That ambivalent attitude is reflected within the Garda Síochána itself where, at a recent conference, some members complained that the strict enforcement of the law might make them unpopular with the public.
As we approach the bank holiday weekend, the usual appeals are being made for motorists to drive carefully and to avoid alcohol. But, as a society, we need to do more. Drink driving should not be tolerated in any circumstances. And traffic laws should be strictly enforced. The Government is presiding over a shambles that can only be tackled through reforms, investment and increased manpower. Above all, leadership is required.