Christmas safety campaign launched

Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is "selfish, dangerous, inexcusable and downright bad", President Mary McAleese said today.

Speaking at the launch of the Christmas Road Safety Campaign at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire, Mrs McAleese said driving under the influence was a personal choice.

"No-one has to drive without a seat belt, or with bald or underpressured tyres. No-one has to speed, no-one has to answer the mobile phone while driving, or check their lipstick or root around for a new CD or light up a cigarette" she said.

"The cyclist travelling in the evening without lights or running the red, the driver who is careless about indicating, the pedestrian walking a country road at night in dark clothing are all people who have made stupid, life threatening and utterly avoidable bad choices. " she said.

"We can give each other the gift of a safe Christmas or the endless misery of a Christmas ruined by a road crash. We all know what to do, so let's just do it," she added.

Chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne said road deaths represented only the tip of the iceberg in relation to road collisions. For each road death in the EU he said there were at least 44 injuries, some eight of which would be described as "serious". Such injuries include life long disablement with severe damage to the brain, spinal cord and other vital parts of the body, Mr Byrne said.

Dr Áine O'Carroll, a consultant at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, said 300 patients had been admitted to the hospital over the last five years, as a result of road collisions. Some 200 of these were cases of traumatic brain injuries, there were 100 spinal problems and 26 amputees.

The chief executive of Meas and drinkaware.ie, Fionnuala Sheehan, called on people to take responsibility for their own drinking this Christmas.