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[Article] Drink-driving ban confusion

10-06-2008 09:29PM

#1

Victor

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http://www.independent.ie/national-news/drinkdriving-ban-confusion-1403747.html

Drink-driving ban confusion
Tuesday June 10 2008

THE ROAD Safety Authority (RSA) was not consulted about plans to allow drivers who are caught slightly over the drink-driving limit to escape an automatic driving ban.

Safety chiefs were not told of a proposal from the Department of Transport to impose penalty points and fines for first-time offenders instead of putting them off the road in the Road Traffic Bill currently being drafted.

And it has emerged that the Government might impose financial penalties based on a percentage of a driver's salary, instead of a standard fine, if caught drunk behind the wheel.

Options

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday "all options" were being considered and legislation had not yet been drafted.

Yesterday, the Irish Independent revealed that under plans to reduce the blood alcohol limit from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg, first-time offenders could escape the mandatory driving ban as currently exists, and instead be hit with penalty points and fines.

Penalties would be more severe for repeat offenders and those well over the limit.

The proposal led to calls from Fine Gael to clarify what was proposed, with Road Safety spokesman Shane McEntee saying any changes would cause "confusion" among motorists.

"Changes to drink-driving limits or penalties will cause confusion among motorists. Confusion leads to people putting themselves and others in jeopardy," he said. "How has the minister come to this decision without looking at any study into what effects these leaked proposals will have on crashes and driver behaviour?

"These are big questions that need to be answered by the minister and he can no longer afford to play politics with people's lives.

"He is making a mockery of road safety. The message is simple. Drink-driving kills. This is what the minister needs to bear in mind if he is considering changes to the penalty system for those caught drink driving."

The Road Safety Authority confirmed it had not been consulted about the move, but a spokeswoman said the role of the safety body was to make recommendations to Government on lowering the blood alcohol limits, which it had done. It was a matter for the Government to draft legislation, they added.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said: "We're making no comment on the matter because we don't know anything about this, we haven't heard anything until today.

Strategy

"In the past, in terms of the road safety strategy, we were asked to give our views on the most appropriate blood-alcohol level. We have done that, but I am not aware of any document or proposal given to us about these proposals. I expect that we will be contacted when the time is right," he said.

The Department of Transport said the Road Traffic Bill was being drafted and it would deal with the blood-alcohol limit and other road safety provisions.

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