Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I listened to the Minister's speech earlier and hope he will pick up on my suggestions on this matter. Motor vehicles become lethal weapons if operated under the influence of alcohol and drugs and drink driving is the main contributory factor to single vehicle collisions and a factor in more than one third of all fatal crashes. The incidence of drug driving has also increased and we need to examine this aspect of road safety. While we need preventative education and strong laws to challenge the widespread culture of impaired driving, these are not enough. It must also become socially unacceptable to drive while impaired. Therefore, we must develop a widespread counter culture of designated intoxicant-free driving. Young people in particular have a leadership role to play in this regard. Older people also have a major responsibility to lead by example.

In August 2007, Sinn Féin launched its all-Ireland road safety policy, which set out concrete proposals to end the culture of impaired driving. Our policy proposals include ensuring adequate resources for a random breath testing regime and training of police officers in detecting and improving drug-impaired driving. We also call for more night time public transport options, particularly in rural areas, to reduce the risk of people driving while impaired. We must also have a widespread public education campaign to accurately inform drivers of the effects of alcohol and the length of time required before a person can safely drive a vehicle after consumption of alcohol. We must promote a culture of intoxicant-free driving. We call too for the participation of victims, survivors and families of victims and survivors of impaired drivers in public education programmes.

It is regrettable that we must once again discuss the need for introduction without delay of mandatory alcohol testing for drivers involved in accidents causing injury. This issue could have been resolved in the Road Traffic Bill last year, but, unfortunately, it was omitted for some reason. There seems to be a commitment from the Minister that this will be addressed at some stage. This legislation should be introduced in the House as soon as possible and I am sure it would be accommodated by all sides.

The success of mandatory testing, which was introduced on 21 July last year, is unquestionable. However, the issue of mandatory alcohol and drug testing at the scene of crashes remains unresolved. The current scenario allows drivers who have caused serious harm or death on our roads to emerge untested. It seems logical that the Garda Síochána should be given the power to automatically breathalyse a driver who has been involved in a road traffic collision, without first having to form an opinion that an intoxicant had been consumed. Surely the serious injury or death of a person on our roads should warrant the breathalysing of the driver responsible.

In the Six Counties and most EU states it is required procedure for police officers to automatically test all drivers involved in crashes. Again, there is an inconsistency between both jurisdictions of our island which negatively affects road safety. All drivers involved in road traffic collisions should not only be tested for alcohol, but also for drugs. Partition is a major impediment to improving road safety here because as a result we have two entirely separate systems, with different speed limits, road signs and standards for drivers. The result is that the death rate from road accidents is one third higher in the Border region. It is in the interest of everyone on this island to work together for an all-Ireland approach that will save lives.

The question of resources must also be addressed. Hopefully, the report that there are only 439 breathalysers in use in the State is inaccurate. Some in the field of road safety have argued that all Garda cars and gardaí should be equipped with breathalysers. Only one fifth of gardaí is trained in the use of breathalysers, which is ridiculous. The same case holds with regard to the 64 intoxilyser machines. According to the promoting awareness, responsibility and care on our roads group, if a garda on duty has not been trained in the use of the machine, a doctor must be called to the station to carry out a blood and urine test, which costs taxpayers €200 per call.

It seems a logical step to extend the mandatory alcohol testing introduced over a year ago to accident scenes. It is ludicrous that only individuals who lose their lives in a collision are tested for alcohol and drug intake after the collision, by way of autopsy. Essentially, if a garda fails to form an opinion that a driver involved in a collision is drunk, a preliminary test is not carried out. People may be drunk but hide it well. They may not have bloodshot eyes or slurred speech and they may not stagger but their driving ability will be impaired. If a driver is unconscious it is impossible for a garda to form this opinion. The fact that most collisions involving serious injury and death occur at weekends, the prime time for drinking and socialising, is no coincidence. One part of the solution is new legislation to ensure that all drivers involved in collisions are tested. That can be another deterrent to the scourge of drink and drug driving.

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