Big fall in Christmas drink-drive offences

THE NUMBER of motorists caught drink-driving over the Christmas period declined by almost a third.

Gardaí recorded 1,149 drink-driving incidents during its Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, according to provisional statistics released yesterday covering the period from November 22nd to January 3rd.

This was more than 350 down on the 1,501 recorded during the same period in 2009/2010.

In a statement, gardaí said it was regrettable for the community as a whole that there were still motorists who were not heeding the road safety message.

There was also a reduction in the number of motorists caught speeding and driving while using a mobile phone, gardaí said. Over the Christmas period more than 3,000 motorists were issued with fixed penalty notices for speeding, and 965 were being prosecuted for driving while using a mobile phone.

The Garda acknowledged the weather may have played a role in the reduction in detections. This “may be due in part to the adverse weather conditions experienced during the last weeks of 2010”, the Garda statement said. However, the Garda said road users were “increasingly complying with legislation and changing their behaviour to make roads safer”.

A new network of Garda mobile speed cameras run by a private consortium began operation on November 16th. The mobile cameras cover 750 sites where there has been a history of speed-related road incidents.

Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey, in charge of road traffic enforcement, said the force had dedicated “considerable time and resources” to reducing fatal and serious collisions over the festive period. “Unfortunately, 10 people lost their lives in the month of December, and we again plead with all road users to exercise caution while travelling on our roads,” he said.

He urged motorists to slow down and prioritise road safety in 2011. “Please make it your resolution to take responsibility for your actions on our roads, to improve road safety for the benefit of everyone in the community,” he said.

He commended those who changed their behaviour on the roads.

“Because of you, lives will be saved in 2011. We all have a role in reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and I thank you for your decision to heed the Garda advice and taking responsibility for safety on our roads,” he said.

Last year saw the lowest number of road deaths since records began 50 years ago.

Garda statistics record 212 road fatalities in 2010, 26 fewer than 2009. December’s total of 10 fatalities was the lowest monthly figure recorded. Two people have died on the roads so far this year.