Vast majority want drunk drivers disqualified

COMMENT: Minister Shane Ross

OPERATION Surround recently took place in Stillorgan. Gardaí stopped and tested motorists for drink and drug driving following the launch of new drug driving tests introduced in my Road Traffic Bill, which passed the Dáil and Seanad last December.

This is just one of a number of measures I hope will make our roads safer and lower the recent spike in fatalities.

However, the facts indicate that as well as drug driving, speeding, mobile phone use and the lack of safety belt wearing, drink driving is also increasing, particularly among young men. Crashes can occur at lower as well as upper levels of alcohol limits.

Statistics show that over the five-year period 2008-2012, a total of 35 people were killed and eight seriously injured in collisions where drivers/motorcyclists had a recorded BAC (blood alcohol content) level of between 21-80mg/100ml.

Currently our limit for drink/driving is 50mg. However, many drivers caught and charged with driving between 50-80mg are allowed pay a fine, gain three penalty points and get right back into their cars.

According to recent research by the Road Safety Authority, the vast majority of people in this country want this anomaly corrected. 

They want drunk drivers, when caught, to be disqualified. And I agree with them – as do many others.

This is why my Bill to repeal this anomaly in the Road Traffic bill 2009 – brought in to appease certain vested interest groups – was approved by Cabinet last month. It is currently going through pre-legislative scrutiny but is receiving opposition from a not unexpected quarter. The vintners, as they did in 2009 when the limit was lowered from 80mg to 50mg, are protesting loudly to anyone and everyone who will listen. They have accused the RSA of analysing its own statistics incorrectly – a charge which the RSA has vehemently denied, saying: “The VFI (Vintners’ Federation of Ireland) has conducted a highly selective and disingenuous interpretation of the RSA’s Pre-Crash Report on Alcohol.”

And let’s be honest here. Behind those statistics are grieving families, friends and colleagues; people whose lives have been ruined by the preventable loss of loved ones. 

Vested interest groups will try to muddy the waters and tell you that this change in legislation will not save lives. They said the same in 2009 when they opposed the lowering of the drink driving limit.

They were wrong then and they are wrong now. And the facts show that.

Shane Ross is an Independent TD for Dublin Rathdown and is Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.