Gardai crack down on drink and drug driving this Easter weekend
By Mary Dennehy
GARDAI will be carrying out roadside Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) this Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which will see drivers tested for the presence of alcohol and drugs.
Alongside mandatory testing for drink and drugs, gardai will also be watching out for erratic behavior on the roads and targeting other “killer behaviours” such as speeding, mobile phone use and the non-wearing of seatbelts.
Gardai will be carrying out mandatory drink and drug testing this Easter Bank Holiday weekend
A total of 59 people have lost their lives or were seriously injured in Easter Bank Holiday crashes since 2012, according to figures released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana.
The focus of this year’s Easter Bank Holiday education and enforcement campaign is drink and drug driving, with An Garda Siochana mounting MIT checkpoints nationwide.
The RSA will also be broadcasting a number of public service messages to highlight the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence of drink and drugs.
Research recently published by the RSA on the role of alcohol in road crashes found that 33 per cent of drivers/motorcyclists who died on the roads in 2014 had alcohol in their systems at the time of their deaths.
The examination, which was conducted by the Health Research Board (HRB) as part of the National Drug Related Death Index (NDRDI), also found that 28 per cent of pedestrians killed had a positive toxicology for alcohol.
Based on other reports it is estimated that drugs play a role in as many as one in ten fatal crashes in this country.
Deaths could have “been avoided”
According to Declan Keogh, South Dublin County Council’s Road Safety Officer: “The really sad thing about those deaths is that they could have been avoided, and had those people driven or rode without having taken any alcohol or drugs, they may still be with us on this Easter bank holiday weekend.
“I would appeal to all drivers to be absolutely sober of any alcohol or drugs at any and all times they are driving any kind of vehicle.”
Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau confirmed that members of the Garda Roads Policing Unit will be conducting roadside screening at MIT checkpoints right around the country, for both alcohol and drugs.
He added: “In addition to this we will be watching out for the erratic behaviour of drivers as a means of identifying those who may be driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
“But drivers should be aware that as the Easter Bank Holiday weekend is a high risk period, we will also be targeting other killer behaviours such as speeding, mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.
“Our priority is to ensure that people who use the road responsibly are not put at risk by the minority of drivers who act without any consideration for the safety of others on the road.”
A total of 38 people have been killed on Irish roads to date in 2018. This represents a decline of eight deaths compared to the same date last year.
Free coffee
Drivers are reminded that the RSA and Applegreen have teamed up again to help drivers to tackle tiredness behind the wheel over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend by providing free cups of coffee to drivers between 2pm and 8pm on Friday 30 March and Monday 2 April.
Simply say ‘RSA’ to the till operator to avail of a free coffee.
