CONVICTED drink drivers in Ireland may need to do breath test each time before they start their engines under new road safety plans.
Aimed at slashing road deaths, the plan is one of many proposed in the next phase of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
The Government is preparing the next phase of its Road Safety Strategy with a focus on tougher rules and new tech to keep dangerous drivers off the roads.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien is set to bring the Phase 2 plan to Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks.
The goal is to cut road deaths and serious injuries by half before 2030, and work towards zero fatalities by 2050.
That means reducing annual fatalities to 72 by the year 2030 – a major decrease from the 172 people who died on Irish roads last year.
And so far this year, 77 lives have already been lost in crashes.
One of the changes being proposed is the use of Alcohol Ignition Interlocks – breathalysers that stop the engine from starting if the driver is over the limit.
The draft report reads: “The MBRS (Medical Bureau of Road Safety) tested and approved a number of interlock products in phase one of the strategy, to support the voluntary uptake of these devices, particularly by organisations with large vehicle fleets.
“In phase two, proposals will be brought forward, based on expert medical research, for the possible mandatory use of alcohol interlocks, alongside rehabilitation courses, as a sanction for drunk driving in certain cases.”
These devices could become mandatory for convicted drink drivers and possibly even professional drivers in future phases.
The strategy also outlines penalties for drink driving under two categories – general road use and work-related driving.
The wider plan includes seven “priority areas,” covering everything from safer roads and vehicles to better emergency response after crashes.
Speed limits are also being reviewed, with a push to cut limits on national secondary roads from 100kph to 80kph and roll out more 30kph zones in towns and cities.
And cameras are set to play a huge role in the plan — not just for speeding but also to catch phone use, seatbelt dodgers and other risky driving behaviour.
Gardai would also get a digital upgrade, with new systems tracking offences and helping manage traffic in real time.
There’s also a push to cut back on how much we drive, to help tackle pollution and traffic congestion as part of a bigger climate plan.
‘This strategy must be ambitious’
The Road Safety Authority will review and publish crash data every two years and look at hospital records to better understand injury trends.
The “Rules of the Road” guide will also be updated to reflect these changes and keep drivers informed.
In a statement, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “We need to be ambitious over the lifetime of this strategy. That is why we have set a target of cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries by half by 2030.
“It must be ambitious if we are to protect all our road users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, drivers, passengers,
whether young or old.
“However, this strategy will prioritise the safety of those who are most vulnerable, ensuring their right to travel the roads
safely is protected.”
New road rules have been proposed to clamp down on dangerous driving[/caption]
