Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the road safety campaign which will be promoted and enforced by members of An Garda Síochána during the Christmas and new year period. [46611/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána launched the Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign 2014/15 in co-operation with the Medical Bureau for Road Safety in UCD on 27 November, 2014. This year's Campaign will have a strong emphasis on intoxicated driving, reflecting the tragic loss of lives on our roads during this period last year, as well as analysis of outcomes from last year's campaign and in particular the number of detections and arrests for intoxicated driving.

In addition, this year's initiative incorporates a specific awareness campaign to highlight the introduction of Roadside Impairment Testing (RIT), which will provide An Garda Síochána with additional powers to test drivers whom they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs.

As part of the overall campaign, significant Garda resources will be dedicated to preventing and addressing unsafe road behaviour over the holiday period through targeted enforcement and road safety operations. Garda road safety enforcement will target high-risk behaviour such as speeding, driving while intoxicated, non-wearing of seatbelts and the use of mobile phones while driving. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána will continue to work with all partner agencies in the promotion of key messages and initiatives to improve road safety.