PRESS RELEASE

DATE: 16 October 2009
SOURCE: Irish Medical Organisation

The Irish Medical Organisation is calling on the Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey, TD, to introduce and publish the proposed legislation to reduce the legal limit for drink driving without further delay.

The evidence from other countries is very clear:

Reducing the limit will reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. At the current legal limit of 80mg/100ml a driver is 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. Drinking almost any amount of alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to drive safely. The risk rises rapidly when the blood alcohol level reaches 50 mg/100ml.

The EU and more recently the World Health Organisation called for all countries to reduce their legal limits to 50mg/100ml or lower. Irelandis one of only three EU countries with the legal limit above 50mg/100ml.

IMO Former President, Dr. Declan Bedford said; “Drink driving is still a serious issue in Ireland. Research in Ireland has shown that where a blood alcohol concentration was available, one in two fatally injured drivers had a blood alcohol concentration of 50mg/100ml or higher.”

He said, “Alcohol impairs driving ability and increases the risk of being involved in fatal crashes. This is a scientific fact. Reducing the legal limit in Irelandwill save lives and reduce injury and disability. A new lower legal limit of 50mg/100ml needs to be introduced as soon as possible. Every life counts”.

For further information

Contact:

Maria Murphy, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Tel. 01 6767 273 Mobile 086 2514 057