OFFICERS FROM the Garda Traffic Corps will be out in force this weekend conducting mandatory alcohol checkpoints as well as speed checks.
Chief Supt Aidan Reid of the Dublin metropolitan region traffic corps said motorists in Dublin should take extreme care while driving this bank holiday weekend.
He said speed checkpoints would focus on 50km zones which the Garda Síochána analysis service had identified as the areas where vulnerable road users were most at risk.
He said there would be a particular focus on the enforcement of drink-driving legislation, speeding and wearing of seatbelts, particularly by back seat passengers.
“However, any breaches of road traffic legislation will not be taken lightly by members of An Garda Síochána.”
Chief Supt Reid said there had been 10 fatalities in the Dublin region so far this year, and he appealed to motorists to slow down in areas with high concentrations of pedestrians such as housing estates and shopping centres.
Motorcyclists were reminded to check their bikes to ensure tyres, brakes and lighting were all in good condition.
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has said mandatory testing for alcohol at the scene of all driving collisions would not be a good use of a garda’s time.
Speaking at the Select Committee on Transport, he opposed an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill 2009 that would require gardaí test all drivers for alcohol when they attend road traffic accidents.
The Bill is currently at committee stage and will be brought before the Seanad before returning to the Dáil. If introduced in its current form, gardaí will be required to test for alcohol at crash scenes only when a person has been injured.
Labour Party Deputy Tommy Broughan said there was an overwhelming desire that alcohol tests at the scene of all accidents should be mandatory.
Fine Gael Shane McEntee said if people knew they were going to be tested “regardless of the tip” they would give more consideration before driving.
But Mr Dempsey rejected the suggestion as a waste of a garda’s time. Even if a driver was in the wrong “he would be getting a garda out to the scene in the hope that someone had a glass of wine at lunch”.
The Minister did agree to consider an amendment to make those found guilty of drink driving liable for the costs of their prosecution. He also said he would revisit a provision which seemed to require that the garda who attended the accident was the garda that had to test for alcohol when the person was taken to a Garda station.
Previews of bank holiday festivals and events: Features, page 17