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[Article] Gardai in Christmas crackdown on drunk drivers

  • 21-11-2003 11:47pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭


    http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/1999543?view=Eircomnet
    Gardai in Christmas crackdown on drunk drivers
    From:ireland.com
    Friday, 21st November, 2003

    The Garda Commissioner, Mr Conroy, has written to all divisional and local Garda commanders ordering a major Christmas crack-down on drink-driving. Tim O'Brien reports.

    The Commissioner's move is part of a concerted effort by road safety bodies to reduce the numbers killed on the roads over Christmas.

    Over the next six weeks 1,500 drivers are expected to be arrested for suspected drink-driving as part of the campaign running from next Sunday until January 3rd.

    According to the National Safety Council some 45 people will die and more than 200 will be seriously injured on the roads by the end of the year if accident rates remain the same as last year.

    The council said alcohol would probably be a contributory factor in 16 of these deaths and in 80 serious injuries. Launching the National Safety Council's annual anti-drink-driving campaign yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, described new Garda powers to combat drink-driving as "tough law".

    However, he said tough law had shown itself able to change the attitude of drivers to speeding, and "there is nothing more important than combating drink-driving. It is the major killer".

    Responding to the Minister, the Commissioner said drink-driving detections went from 6,865 to more than 11,00 between 1997 and last year and he revealed his determination that all divisional and local commanders should go out and be seen by drivers this Christmas.

    "I have directed my officers regarding the enforcement requirements so as to ensure an effective campaign over the coming weeks. Their visibility will be evident, breaches of the law will be detected and prosecutions will ensue," he warned.

    Mr Eddie Shaw, chairman of the National Safety Council, welcomed the announcement of new Garda powers which he said "will mean many more lives saved and serious injuries avoided".

    Mr Paul Donaldson, vice president of the Irish Insurance Federation, said the announcement of random testing will be a significant deterrent and will make detecting drink-driving easier for gardaí.


Comments

  • #2
    davej
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,186 ✭✭✭davej


    hmmm. This sort of story is as regular as well, Christmas really. Just like the guaranteed headlines about the dangers of fireworks around Halloween.

    Shouldn't there be a "major crackdown" all of the time? I accept that there is a limited budget and that the commissioner chooses to spend it on specific periods such as Christmas and bank holiday weekends. But perhaps if the money was spread out evenly over the year so that there was a consistent Garda presence all of the time, it would lead to a more significant change in the drink-drive culture. It seems to me that with the present system people just think to themselves "oh it's the Christmas crackdown, I better watch out over the next few weeks". Probably most potential offenders will offend anyway, it's just that the chances of actually getting caught increase slightly. A Steady and consistent approach throughout the year is better than the "Christmas big bang" method if you want to effect cultural change.

    davej


  • #3
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    I think the flip side is a lot more people are likely to drink more than they usually do around Christmas, especially after the November "fast". Then either through not thinking or thinking they can get away with it, they drink and drive. Is suppose you would need to compare the number of checkpoints and the number of arrests for each month.


  • #4
    K2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 376 ✭✭K2


    If the gardai made such a big effort all year round in detecting drunk drivers the figures would probably shoot up compared to previous years. You only have to look in car parks of the pubs at any time of the year to work out that there are still a hugh number of drivers prepared to run the risk of drink driving. The new laws brennan is planning on bringing in re: gardai being able to stop and breath test at random will go a long way to putting this practice to an end. Drivers will only stop taking chances if they reckon there is a good chance of getting caught, killing themselves or somebody else doesn't come into the equation:rolleyes:


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