More traffic corps needed to prevent increase in drink driving - RSA

Traffic corps numbers need to be increased as drink driving numbers are going up again, says the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

“Visible policing is the one thing that deters people,” Liz O’Donnell, Chair of the RSA, said on Newstalk Breakfast.

Ms O’Donnell was responding to reports that 20 per cent fewer breathalyser tests were conducted by gardaí last year.

The RSA believes there is a direct link between enforcement and compliance of drink driving laws.

“People are taking calculated risks. We have made great strides. In the early 2000s drink driving was a factor in 40 per cent of fatal crashes, that figure is now way down.

“All the awareness is fine, but if people don’t see Garda check points they think they will get away with it.”

Traffic crops numbers are down from 1200 in 2009, to 750 in 2015.

“We really need higher visibility for the gardaí on the roads accompanied by a fear of enforcement of the drink driving laws.”