Road Safety Authority says more people driving under the influence

New data from An Garda Síochána revealed at the Road Safety Authority (RSA) annual international road safety conference, indicates that between January and April this year, there has been an increase of 18% in the number of arrests for driving under the influence (DUI), compared with the same period in 2016. Figures also show that April 2017 saw more arrests for drink driving than in any single month in the past five years.

The Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport, Mr Shane Ross said, “Drink-driving in this country remains a significant problem. That is why I brought the Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty-Drink Driving) Bill 2017 before the Oireachtas, which proposes that anyone detected driving over the legal limit will receive a mandatory disqualification from driving. This is essential legislation, designed to save lives. This Bill is based on scientific research, addressing drink driving at lower limits. I look forward to hearing the insights of the international speakers on how they have sought to tackle the scourge of drink driving in their jurisdictions, in particular the penalties they have in place, which I understand in Sweden and Queensland are far stricter than anything we have in place or are proposing under my new Bill.”

Provisional research from the RSA to be unveiled at the conference will show that alcohol was present in 30% of road traffic collision fatalities in 2013 and 2014. The National Drug-related Deaths Index coroner’s data* was collected by the Health Research Board for this period. The data also shows that 55% of all fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol were male driver/motorcyclist deaths.

Findings of the data include:

• 33% of all fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol took place in Galway (10%), Cork (11%) and Dublin (12%).

• 57% of all fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol took place 8pm-4am.

• Alcohol consumption in conjunction with drug use is prevalent in road traffic crashes with 44% of fatalities found to have alcohol plus at least one other drug present.

• 65% of fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol took place on Saturday (17%), Sunday (23%) & Monday (24%).

• 33% of fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol took place during the summer months – June (13%), July (10%) & August (10%).

A total of 63 people have died on the roads to date in 2016, this is a reduction of 13 up to the same period last year.

Chairperson of the RSA, Ms. Liz O’Donnell, who will also address the conference said “Road collision data and the latest arrest statistics confirm that drink driving is still a problem in Ireland. Consuming any alcohol impairs driving and increases the risk of a collision. Saving lives on Irish roads requires a zero-tolerance attitude to drink-driving. That is why the RSA supports the move to introduce an automatic disqualification for drivers found to be over the legal alcohol limit.”

Speaking at the RSA international conference, Superintendent Con O’Donohue of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “Alcohol impaired driving continues to be one of the most significant factors contributing to fatal and serious collisions on Irish roads. Arrests for driving under the influence continue to increase week on week. While it is disappointing to see that drivers are still prepared to take a chance it is important for all to understand that there is significant and focused enforcement by An Garda Síochána of our life saving intoxicated driving laws.”

The National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is an epidemiological database, managed by the Health Research Board (HRB). This database records all deaths due to drug and alcohol poisoning, and all deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent.

During 2013-2014, 381 road users died in road traffic collisions (RTCs) in the Republic of Ireland, of which the NDRDI coroner’s data captures 269 of these fatalities (71%).