Mandatory testing for crash drivers

Regulations to introduce mandatory breath testing at the scene of a crash will come into operation next week, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar confirmed this morning.

Until now, gardaí were legally entitled to test a driver for alcohol at the scene of a crash if they suspected alcohol was a factor.

The new regulation, which comes into effect next Tuesday, removes this discretion in all cases except where the attending garda thinks there could be a serious risk to the driver’s health.

Speaking at a road safety conference in Dublin Castle, Mr Varadkar also said roadside drug testing and lower alcohol limits would be introduced later this year.

Mr Varadkar said lower drink driving limits will provide for a reduction of the current blood alcohol limit of 80mg to 50mg and the introduction of a new level of 20mg for inexperienced motorists and professional drivers. The new levels are not expected to be introduced until October, due to the need to purchase new testing equipment.

The new breath testing powers are part of the Road Traffic Bill 2011 which was drawn up to address a problem in the Road Traffic Act 2010 which, the Attorney General said, linked this new power with the introduction of lower drink driving limits.

The conference, organised by the Road Safety Authority, also heard from a number of speakers of the impact of road crashes on the families on victims.

Authority chairman Gay Byrne said the impact of crashes on the lives of those affected can be severe and long lasting.

Chief executive Noel Brett said the conference, which was attended by some 200 health professionals, gardaí and interested parties, was a demonstration of “the human impact of road collisions”.

Road safety organisation Public Against Road Carnage (Parc) welcomed the commencement of mandatory alcohol testing at crash sites. Spokeswoman Susan Gray told the conference the move was an aid to bringing “justice and fairness to investigations that was denied to many for years”.