New anti-drink driving campaign begins

The country’s biggest ever anti-drink driving campaign has been announced today in a bid to reduce the number of deaths on Irish roads over the holiday period.

Last year, 38 people lost their lives on Irish roads during the month of December, with 18 people killed or seriously injured during Christmas week alone.

Gardaí, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Commission for Taxi Regulation and Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (Meas), today joined forces to back this year's campaign.

The latest campaign includes a new television and radio advert which encourages people to get home safely this festive season by using taxis or hackneys. Another radio advertisement to be aired highlights the danger of  driving the morning after a nights socialising

According to recent statistics from the Health Service Executive (HSE), one in three crashes between 2003 and 2005 were alcohol-related. In cases where the blood alcohol levels of drivers were available, almost six in every ten of those killed were found to have alcohol in their blood.

The HSE study into drink driving in Ireland also found that two thirds of alcohol-related crashes occur between 10pm on Friday and 8am on Monday.

Furthermore, 21 per cent fatal road crashes that happen between 6am and 12 noon are alcohol related.

Speaking today, the chief Executive of Meas and drinkaware.ie Fionnuala Sheehan called on motorists to take responsibility for their drinking this Christmas and not ignore the morning after.

"We have found that when drinking many people do not consider what a standard drink is and the period of time it takes their bodies to eliminate it," said Ms Sheehan. "A standard drink measures the amount of alcohol, not the amount of liquid you're drinking. When it comes to the morning after and getting into your car to drive, not knowing how much you have drunk is extremely dangerous as you may still have alcohol in your system."

To coincide with the start of the anti-drink driving advertisements, a Garda enforcement campaign has also begun. Over the festive season, motorists can expect to see mandatory alcohol tests and speed checkpoints and these will be backed by undercover and marked patrols.

Assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock of the Garda Traffic Corps today emphasised that enforcing drink driving legislation is a priority for the Gardai throughout the year but especially over the festive season.