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Gardaí urge Paddy's Day road
safety
15.03.19
SAINT Patrick's Day
revellers will be in Inishowen this weekend in their
thousands with large crowds expected in all the main
centres.
Big throngs are expected particularly at the two
main local parades in Buncrana and Moville with
activities also planned in other towns and villages.
Motorists are being warned that the Gardaí will out
in force targeting drivers under the influence of
drink and drugs over the St Patrick’s Weekend, which
is traditionally a high risk period for alcohol and
drug driving related crashes. |
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To date in 2019, 34 people have been
killed on Irish roads. |
Commenting on this
year’s St. Patrick’s road safety campaign, Minister
for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Shane Ross TD,
said: "The Road Safety Authority and An Garda
Síochána have been warning of the dangers of driving
under the influence of alcohol or drugs for many
years but some motorists continue to ignore them.
The introduction of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act
2018 has increased the penalties for drink driving
at lower levels. These penalties apply at any time.
Drink driving is drink driving whether it is at
midnight or midday and any drink drivers detected
with a blood alcohol concentration between 50mg and
80mg now face losing their licence for three months.
The aim of road safety legislation is to reduce
deaths and serious injuries on our roads”.
Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid, Roads Policing , An
Garda Síochána, said: "Whilst the vast majority of
drivers that we test are free from alcohol or drugs,
we have detected more drivers this year that are
not, which is why An Garda Síochána will have a
visible enforcement presence across the country over
the St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend. This will
include a targeted focus on driving under the
influence of an intoxicant, whether that is alcohol
or drugs or a combination of both. Members of roads
policing units across the country will be targeting
the times that are linked to alcohol related
crashes. In the first two months of 2019, a total of
1,429 people have been arrested on suspicion of
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
This represents a 17% increase in arrests.”
Chief Superintendent Reid added: "Drivers are
required to carry their driving licence on their
person. If stopped and breathalysed and you don’t
have your licence, you will be tested at the lower
level. If you fail, you will be arrested and taken
to a garda station for further testing. Please
remember, the drink driving limit in Ireland is 50mg
of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, however, for learner
drivers, novice drivers, professional and commercial
drivers, a lower limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml
of blood applies. Having a valid driving licence to
hand will avoid this situation.”
To date in 2019, 34 people have been killed on Irish
roads. |
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