GENERAL

What is the Bill about?

This Bill is about saving lives and reducing injuries on Irish roads. One of the provisions of the Bill is to lower the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level for drinking and driving for the current limit of 80mgs to 50mgs (for qualified drivers) and 20mgs (novice & professional drivers).

The Bill also:

• Introduces administrative fixed penalties for certain drink driving offences (i.e. learner, novice & professional drivers at BAC levels of 20-80mg; other drivers at BAC levels of 50-80mg and 80-100mg);
• Introduces Preliminary Impairment Testing (such as co-ordination tests) to assist Gardaí in forming an opinion as to whether a driver is under the influence of an intoxicant (drink or drugs);
• Amends fixed charge and penalty point provisions, to provide for the option of payment of a fixed charge on receipt of a summons for the offence; to set out certain presumptions in relation to the delivery of fixed charge notices; and to improve certain matters relating to the endorsement of penalty points on driver records;
• Amends driving licence provisions, to ensure that penalty points and disqualifications can be applied to non-national driving licences, and to give the Gardai powers to seize a licence where the driver has been disqualified or where the licence has been fraudulently obtained or is forged or altered;
• Amends provisions and penalties in relation to disqualifications and restates, with amendments, certain driving offences, including inconsiderate, careless and dangerous driving.

In addition, the Bill restates, in a consolidated and clearer format, existing provisions on intoxicated driving, consequential disqualifications and fixed charge offences, and includes a number of minor amendments to the Road Traffic Acts.

What difference will the Bill make to road safety?

Alcohol is one of the main causes of death and injuries on our roads along with speeding and not wearing seat belts. Alcohol impairs driving and the evidence is clear that reducing BAC levels will reduce the incidence of road collisions, thereby saving lives and preventing serious injuries and make roads safer for everyone.

279 people were killed on Irish roads last year, and 198 so far this year. Many more were injured. Each fatality and injury on our roads can devastate families, friends and communities.

Some facts from the RSA’s website www.drinkdriving.ie :

• Alcohol is estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 3 fatal collisions;

• At half the current limit (i.e. 40mg), drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a collision. At the current limit (i.e. 80mg), drivers are six times more likely to have a collision;

• Alcohol is twice as potent when you are a tired driver;

• Almost 1 in 5 drivers killed on our roads, where alcohol was present, were under the legal limit when they died.

Quite apart from the personal and social impacts of road collisions, their economic cost is estimated to be in the region of €1.3 billion each year.

Personal choices are made in relation to drinking and driving, and changing driver behaviour is the target. A reduced BAC level and enhanced enforcement provisions will directly address the issue of the alcohol and driving.