asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of motorists charged with drunken driving each year since 1955, (b) the number of motorists convicted each year since 1955, (c) the number of motorists whose driving licences were suspended each year since 1955, and (d) the number of motorists jailed following conviction on charges of drunken driving each year since 1955.
Written Answers. - Motoring Offences.
255.
Statistics for the offence of driving or attempting to drive while drunk are not available for years prior to 1958, and statistics of persons committed to prison for this offence prior to 1969 could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time on examining old records. The number of persons committed to prison in 1969 following conviction for the offence was seven.
Disqualification for driving is mandatory on conviction for the offence.
The following table shows the number of persons proceeded against and convicted in the years from 1958 to 1969 (the figures relate to the year ended 30th September in each case):
|
Year |
Number of persons proceeded against for driving or attempting to drive mechanically propelled vehicles while drunk |
Number of persons convicted |
|
1958 |
349 |
235 |
|
1959 |
479 |
308 |
|
1960 |
535 |
336 |
|
1961 |
651 |
431 |
|
1962 |
912 |
630 |
|
1963 |
962 |
685 |
|
1964 |
1,208 |
858 |
|
1965 |
1,321 |
957 |
|
1966 |
1,189 |
844 |
|
1967 |
1,225 |
884 |
|
1968 |
1,281 |
906 |
|
1969 |
1,347 |
964 |