asked the Minister for Local Government the number of persons killed in road accidents last year and in the first quarter of this year; and the number of cases in both periods where excessive drinking of alcohol was stated to be a factor.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Accident Statistics.
79.
Road Accident Facts published annually by An Foras Forbartha, shows that during 1972, the number of persons killed in road accidents was 640. Provisional figures show that during the first quarter of 1973, 145 persons were killed on the roads.
The statistics available do not indicate the number of accidents attributable to excessive consumption of alcohol. Research, however, pinpoints drinking as a major contributory factor in road accidents.