The Department of Transport is examining the possibility of introducing more lenient laws for drink drivers who are marginally over the limit but has taken “no decision” on the introduction of such a system in the Republic.
A spokeswoman for the Department said: "We are drafting the new road traffic bill and it contains a host of road safety measures including a provision on blood alcohol level.
"We would certainly look at what's happening in other jurisdictions. This would be sensible and prudent. But no decision has been taken on penalties. That part of the bill has not been drafted yet," the spokeswoman added.
She pointed out that in most other European countries motorists were not put off the road on a first offence. In Denmark, for example, motorists have a fine relative to wages and the resitting of the theory test. She said that it would be "towards the end of the year" before the bill would be published.
Last month, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, confirmed he was pushing ahead with plans to cut blood-alcohol levels by up to 75 per cent for certain drivers over the coming months. The Road Safety Authority has recommended that the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg for ordinary drivers and down to 20mg for learner and commercial drivers.
But, according to today's report, the Government may also introduce more lenient laws for drivers caught marginally over the drink driving limit and on a first offence. Under this proposal the driver would stay on the road and instead be fined and receive penalty points.
Fine Gael’s road safety spokesman, Shane McEntee, called on Mr Dempsey to clarify what is planned.
“Changes to drink driving limits or penalties will cause confusion among motorists. Confusion leads to people putting themselves and others in jeopardy,” he said.
“Has the Minister consulted with the road safety experts in the Road Safety Authority and in the Garda Síochána? How has the Minister come to this decision without looking at any study into what effects these leaked proposals will have on crashes and driver behaviour?”
