IRELAND LOWERS DRINK-DRIVE LIMIT

The Irish parliament has passed The Road Traffic Bill 2009, which reduces the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for drivers from the current limit of 80mg to 50mg, and to 20mg for novice and professional drivers. It also introduces mandatory testing of all drivers involved in collisions in Ireland where injury occurs.

The adoption of this Bill that received wide cross party support in the Irish Parliament, leaves the UK and Malta as the only two EU countries with a 0.8g/l BAC limit.

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity in Ireland for alcohol-related issues, congratulated both the Government and the Opposition parties who supported the Bill. Fiona Ryan, its Director, said: “Some 100 people have died on our roads so far this year and it is estimated that 1 in 3 road crashes in Ireland are alcohol-related. The lowering of the drink drive limit will ensure greater safety for all of us using the roads”.

Alcohol, even in comparatively moderate doses, significantly impairs drivers’ capabilities and slows their reactions. Experience in other countries provides overwhelming evidence that a reduction in drink driving limits has a direct impact on the number of deaths and injuries of road users. For example, in Switzerland, where the limit was reduced from 0.8 to 0.5g/l in 2005, there were 44% less alcohol- related road deaths in 2006-2008 compared with the period 2002-2004. A similar drop was also registered in Austria when the limit was reduced from 0.08 to 0.05 in New South Wales; for instance, fatal collisions fell by 8% and serious collisions by 7%, while in Queensland, fatal collisions fell by 18% and serious collisions by 14% .

Over the past nine years Ireland has seen an impressive 41% reduction in the number of road deaths, from 411 in 2001 to 241 in 2009. With 54 deaths per million on Irish roads, it ranks 7th safest country in the EU. Ireland’s progress has been recognised with the “Road Safety PIN Award 2010” at the 4th ETSC Road Safety PIN Conference in Brussels on the 22nd of June. One of the most important measures of Ireland’s success was the introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing in 2006 and tougher penalties for drink driving offences in 2007. The announcement of the new roll out of safety cameras shows that the Government is also committed to further reducing speeding. However, up to one third of road deaths on Irish roads every year are estimated to be alcohol-related. The introduction of lower BAC limits will only help Ireland reduce drink driving and become a safer country to travel to.

The European Transport Safety Council highly commended the resolve of the Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey T.D. and the Irish legislators. Speaking from Brussels, ETSC Executive Director Antonio Avenoso said: “This is one of the most important steps in road safety which any country keen on the health of its people can make. Lower drink-drive limits will mean fewer deaths on the roads and less human grief and injury”.