Madam, – I read in David Labanyi’s article (Motors, September 16th) that in its submissions to the Minister for Transport, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) quoted research by Dr Bedford of the HSE in support of its recommendations for a 50mg drink-drive limit.
The article said Dr Bedford had found that, of 335 fatalities in 2003, 10 per cent had blood alcohol levels between 50mg and 79mg. This would appear to refer to 33/34 deaths.
However, in Dr Bedford’s actual presentation, slide 24 shows the number for the three-year period 2003-2005 is 18 driver deaths (3 per cent of the 611 total) in the 50-80mg range. In the 20-49mg range there were also 18 driver deaths, and there were 12 deaths (2 per cent) in the 1-19mg range. With zero level there were 165 deaths (27 per cent). The table is available on the Public Against Road Carnage website, www.parc.ie. This average of six deaths per year for the 50-80mg level gives a different story to that referred to earlier.
Elsewhere, Dr Bedford states that “the fact that a crash may be alcohol-related does not indicate that other factors were not relevant, eg speeding”.
So when figures are being compiled for low alcohol levels it must be difficult, if not impossible, to apportion the exact degree of causality to alcohol. As Dr Bedford has advised, we need a more systematic collection of data over a number of years. The 2003-2005 figures do not justify any change in existing limits.
The RSA and others have an obligation not to misrepresent facts and must listen when counter-arguments are given, such as the health benefits in social networking for rural people.
What attention are they giving to zero-alcohol road deaths with causes such as medication, drugs, lack of sleep, depression, disease, advancing age, talking on phones, talking to passengers, day-dreaming and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to?
A balance must be struck. – Yours, etc,