Vol. 409 No. 6
21 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of deaths in 1988, 1989 and 1990 arising from road accidents where a person was over the drink driving limits; and if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.
The information sought in the first part of the question is not available. However, the number of persons killed between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. is generally accepted as providing an indicator of alcohol related deaths. On that basis, it is estimated that alcohol is probably a factor in about 30 per cent of all road deaths. Detailed information in relation to road accidents in 1988 and 1989 is given in the annual report Road Accident Facts Ireland, copies of which are in the Oireachtas Library. The report for 1990 will be available later this year.
I intend to propose amendments to the Road Traffic Acts with a view to applying a more stringent blood alcohol limit and introducing other measures related to drink and driving.
The Minister can rest assured that he will have the support of this side of the House for the measures he will propose. Would he indicate what his proposals in the new legislation will be for reducing the blood alcohol limit?
I am pleased to hear the Deputy say that he will support any measures that would be contemplated in an amendment to the Road Traffic Acts. We hope to be able to introduce the amending legislation in the autumn. An interesting statistic is that 35.8 per cent of the 460 road deaths in 1989 occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. We draw our assumptions from that kind of statistic and I think we are fairly accurate in that regard. We are contemplating reducing the limit of the level of alcohol in the blood to something similar to what is current in many EC member states, that is 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres.
Would the Minister agree that it does not matter very much what the limit is if the law is not enforced? Good enforcement steps were taken over last Christmas especially but can the Minister say what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the road traffic legislation is enforced?
There was quite a big improvement last year, particularly at Christmas, which was brought about by better enforcement of existing limits. In the first quarter of 1991 there has been a reduction of 28 per cent in the number of road deaths compared with the same period in 1990. We do not have the final figures for May but it is suggested that the favourable trend will continue. It is all due to enforcement and we look forward to continued support from the gardaí in pursuance of our objective.
