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Drug driving detections have more than doubled compared to last year.
The new garda statistics also show that despite a huge reduction in traffic volume during the Covid-19 closures, the death rate on the country’s roads has increased.
The figures were released when An Garda Síochána launched its Christmas and New Year’s road safety appeal, urging drivers not to drive after using alcohol or drugs, slow down and be aware of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman of the National Office of Highway Watch and Community Engagement said 136 people died on our roads this year.
“That’s eight more than last year at a time when traffic volumes were reduced by as much as 70% during lockdown restrictions,” he said.
“Just last weekend there were 85 alcohol detections and 26 drug detections on our highways,” he added.
“Even with low traffic volumes, 2,573 people were found driving under the influence of drugs this year compared to the same period last year. It’s an increase of 113 percent, ”he said.
In the same time period, detections of driving under the influence decreased 24% from 7,675 to 5,849.
Deputy Commissioner Hilman also said a new pattern has emerged in which detections for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are more evenly distributed throughout the week rather than an increase on the weekends.
It was unclear if Covid-19 was responsible for this change in public behavior patterns.
He said speeding violations rose 26 percent this year to 151,000 cases so far.
Highway Safety Authority President Liz O’Donnell said increases in drug driving and speeding have had a direct effect on the death toll on the roads.
He said the rise in detections of people driving under the influence of drugs is of particular concern, and while there has been a drop in detections for driving under the influence of alcohol, the Gardaí are “playing catch-up.” with those who drive after using drugs.
“Passenger fatalities have also increased, and not wearing seat belts may be contributing to this,” he said.
O’Donnell said the latest figures show that where toxicology tests were carried out on road death victims, more than a third of them had alcohol on their bodies, nearly 10 percent had taken cocaine, and more than 7 percent had one hundred had taken cannabis.
“Pubs may be closed because of Covid, but people still drink alcohol and keep getting into cars. If you are drinking at home you have to be careful with the measurements you pour. We pour twice the normal level at home without realizing it ”, he added.
Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics, urged tired drivers traveling long distances to stop for a caffeinated drink and sleep 15 minutes before resuming their trip.
“Share the driving if possible, but don’t try to fight sleep behind the wheel,” he said.
The Garda Christmas and New Years safety campaign will run until January 5, and there will be high-visibility checkpoints and mandatory roadside poison testing.
Professor Denis Cusack, from the Road Safety Medical Office, said that gardaí were given additional test units on the road to help detect the use of beverages and drugs among drivers.
Online editors
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