Hundreds of Garda recruits are to be used in a road safety "blitz" next month to pressure motorists to wear safety belts, cut speed and end drink-driving habits, the Garda Commissioner has decided.
The Garda is to launch the high-visibility Operation Safeguard led by the Garda's Traffic Corps between June 10th and 15th on national primary and secondary routes.
"The critical targets in this operation will be seat belt wearing; excessive speed; drink driving; young driver and heavy goods vehicles/pedestrian behaviour," the Garda said last night.
Operation Safeguard is to run on a 24-hour cycle, with high-visibility patrolling and checkpoints, while gardaí will operate "covert" speed checks to track motorists' behaviour.
Two hundred and seventy five nearly fully-trained recruits from Templemore, will be detailed to join the traffic operation, which will be co-ordinated by Assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock.
"In addition to providing resources to the operation, it is expected that involvement at an early stage in their career will help focus these young gardaí towards road safety.
"Road safety is not solely the responsibility of An Garda Síochána, but each and every road user throughout the length and breadth of the country," Supt Kevin Donohoe said last night.
The Garda plans have been discussed with the chairman of the National Road Safety Council, broadcaster Gay Byrne, who will launch the council's summer safety campaign.
The radio advertisements will focus on young male drivers aged between 17 and 24, though the council is also to launch survey results that will show that the safety message is finally beginning to register with the public.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transport's Road Safety Bill, which is to be brought into law by the summer, is due to go before the Cabinet in coming weeks - perhaps as early as today.
The new legislation will make random alcohol testing permissible by removing the need for gardaí to form the opinion that a driver is driving under the influence. Once in law, drivers stopped with too much drink consumed will be able to accept an automatic six-month suspension and fine, rather than risking more at a full court hearing.
The legislation will also finally ban drivers from using hand-held mobile telephones whilst driving, following a failed attempt five years ago, though hands-free models will be permitted.
