Taoiseach blames road carnage on driver behaviour

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has blamed driver behaviour for 90 per cent of the current road carnage, saying "in many instances that behaviour is affected by the fact that drivers consume alcohol".

Issuing a special appeal to motorists to take care this weekend, Mr Ahern said nine out of 10 crashes were caused by driver behaviour.

He said a core number of drivers believed it was still acceptable to drink and drive. "Just one drink impairs, and when combined with tired drivers on a long journey it increases the risk of a crash significantly. It is okay to have a drink and enjoy the weekend, but don't take it onto the roads."

He warned motorists they could expect increased levels of enforcement this weekend. "The increased levels of enforcement which the Garda has put in place, along with the efforts of the new Road Safety Authority, will strengthen the fight against drink driving."

The incoming chairman of the authority Gay Byrne also appealed to drivers to reduce their speed and show courtesy this weekend. Speaking yesterday Mr Byrne asked drivers to reduce their speeds by five kilometres per hour because of the increased risk of crashes at bank holiday weekends.

However, international advisor on road safety systems Raymond Hegarty said the Government's policy of appealing to drivers was not likely to succeed. Mr Hegarty, who advises local authorities and police forces in Europe and Asia on how intelligent transport systems can be employed, said a simple maths calculation applied.

"There are 2.4 million registered drivers in Ireland and 400 gardaí in the Traffic Corps. That is one garda for every 6,000 drivers. It is simply not possible to change habitual behaviour of drivers when there is such a remote possibility of ever being caught in violation of road safety laws.

"There has to be a fair system that guarantees that if you speed you will be caught", instead of "if you speed you might be caught".