John O'Donoghue
Question:148 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the average amount by which those convicted of driving with excess alcohol in their blood or urine exceeded the statutory limit in the year 1993. [1488/94]
Written Answers. - Drink Driving Offences.
The Garda Commissioner's Annual Report on Crime for 1993 shows a figure of 3,938 persons convicted of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle with blood-urine alcohol levels above the permitted limit.
Information on the blood-urine alcohol levels of convicted persons is not readily available from Garda sources. However, blood and urine specimens provided for the Garda by persons suspected of driving offences are analysed by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which is funded by the Department of the Environment. The bureau's annual report sets out in detail a breakdown of alcohol levels encountered in specimens of blood and urine analysed. A copy of the 1993 report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 July 1994. Copies of this report (and reports for previous years) are available in the Oireachtas Library.