The Garda Commissioner, Mr Conroy, has written to all divisional and local Garda commanders ordering a major Christmas crack-down on drink-driving. Tim O'Brien reports.
The Commissioner's move is part of a concerted effort by road safety bodies to reduce the numbers killed on the roads over Christmas.
Over the next six weeks 1,500 drivers are expected to be arrested for suspected drink-driving as part of the campaign running from next Sunday until January 3rd.
According to the National Safety Council some 45 people will die and more than 200 will be seriously injured on the roads by the end of the year if accident rates remain the same as last year.
The council said alcohol would probably be a contributory factor in 16 of these deaths and in 80 serious injuries. Launching the National Safety Council's annual anti-drink-driving campaign yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, described new Garda powers to combat drink-driving as "tough law".
However, he said tough law had shown itself able to change the attitude of drivers to speeding, and "there is nothing more important than combating drink-driving. It is the major killer".
Responding to the Minister, the Commissioner said drink-driving detections went from 6,865 to more than 11,00 between 1997 and last year and he revealed his determination that all divisional and local commanders should go out and be seen by drivers this Christmas.
"I have directed my officers regarding the enforcement requirements so as to ensure an effective campaign over the coming weeks. Their visibility will be evident, breaches of the law will be detected and prosecutions will ensue," he warned.
Mr Eddie Shaw, chairman of the National Safety Council, welcomed the announcement of new Garda powers which he said "will mean many more lives saved and serious injuries avoided".
Mr Paul Donaldson, vice president of the Irish Insurance Federation, said the announcement of random testing will be a significant deterrent and will make detecting drink-driving easier for gardaí.