‘Beyond belief’ that some believe it is acceptable to drive while intoxicated

Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

It is “beyond belief” that some people think it is acceptable to drive while intoxicated, a superintendent has said.

Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries of the Garda National Road Traffic Bureau said that there were 14 deaths on Irish roads during An Garda Síochána's Christmas safety appeal that ran from December 1st, 2023, to January 4th, 2024.

There were 184 fatalities on Irish roads last year, compared to 155 deaths in 2022.

She said this compares to 17 deaths during the previous Christmas period, but that the reduction “is not a good news story”.

“We would like to see those reductions far lower than what they actually are.”

She said it was “dreadful” that three people had already been killed on Irish roads in the first few days of 2024.

“During that time (the Christmas period), we had many arrests for intoxicated driving, one per hour, 25 per cent of those were solely for drugs, which means that the remaining 75 per cent were alcohol and a combination of drugs and alcohol.

“So during that time, our roads policing and our regular members concentrated the factors that we know are causing accidents, holidays collisions on our roads.”

She said that inappropriate speed for weather conditions, intoxicated driving and distracted driving were among the reasons why accidents take place on roads.

She said that intoxicated driving involves both illegal on prescribed drugs.

“It is totally unacceptable to get behind the wheel of a car when you knowingly know that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“It is beyond belief that people still believe that it is acceptable to do that in today’s day and age.”

She added: “It’s not a case of people being poor drivers.

“I see examples of fantastic drivers every day, the majority of people on the roads are good, sensible law-abiding, drivers.

“Unfortunately, there is an element that still thinks it’s within their right to drive whatever speed they like intoxicated and being distracted.”

She said that distracted driving is not just having a mobile phone to your ear.

“We’re talking about mobile phones that are mounted on our dashboards, when we’re using our apps, when we’re talking to our passengers we are distracted from other activities that are happening perhaps on the carriageway beside us.

“So distracted driving is not just about the use of mobile phones.

“Anyone who takes their eyes off the road for a second that is careless at best, at worst dangerous driving.

“And then there is the wearing of seatbelts.

“We know that 25 per cent of passengers and drivers who are killed on our roads are not wearing their seatbelt.”