asked the Minister for Justice the date on which the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960 came into operation; the number of traffic accidents and offences in which intoxicating liquor was a factor in each of the five years immediately prior to the passing of the Act; and the number of traffic accidents and offences in which intoxicating liquor was a factor in each of the five years subsequent to the coming into operation of the Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intoxicating Liquor Act.
68.
The Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960, came into force on 4th July, 1960.
The only statistics available relating to road accidents are contained in the annual returns that are presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas annually and which may be consulted in the Library. Up to 1960 these returns indicated the number of persons involved in accidents known to the Garda who were affected by drink or drugs but it was recognised that these figures were very tentative and unreliable and the later returns do not contain them. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to the opening paragraphs of Part V of the published Report of the Commission on "Driving while Under the Influence of Drink or a Drug".
The annual reports of the Commissioner, Garda Síochána on crime, indicate the number of persons charged with driving or attempting to drive while drunk. Because of changes in the law effected by the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and in the format of the reports themselves, it is not possible to be certain that the figures for earlier years are entirely comparable with those for recent years. The figures given in the reports in respect of mechanically propelled vehicles are in the form of a statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
In this connection, I think it relevant to point out that the number of mechanically propelled vehicles on the roads increased from approximately 227,000 in 1955 to approximately 447,000 in 1965.
Following is the statement:
|
Year |
Persons charged |
|
1955 |
447 |
|
1956 |
440 |
|
1957 |
423 |
|
1958 |
349 |
|
1959 |
479 |
|
1960 |
535 |
|
1961 |
651 |
|
1962 |
912 |
|
1963 |
962 |
|
1964 |
1,208 |
|
1965 |
1,321 |