South Meath Driving School

Over the October Bank Holiday week-end, we came into line with European drink driving levels. The current level dropped from 80 milligrams (mg) to 50mg for all drivers and from 80mg to 20mg for learner, newly qualified and professional drivers. Therefore, for the learner driver, i.e. those procuring a Learner Permit on or after the 4^th of April, 2011, and for a period of two years after passing the driving test, the drink driving limit is reduced to 20mg of alcohol per 100millilitres of blood. In a word, that’s about a glass of beer. This limit also applies to professional drivers such as Goods and Public Service Vehicle drivers. Those drivers are referred to here as ‘specified.’ It applies to those drivers when not driving in their professional capacity. So, the message is crystal clear at this stage, “If you drive, don’t drink.”

But there’s a slight easing of the pain in that there’s a new tiered penalty system to deal with those offences, there being a fixed penalty charge in place as follows –

50mg – 80mg, the driver is arrested and required to provide breath, blood or urine specimen at a Garda station. Where the driver is not ‘specified’ and hasn’t availed of the fixed penalty option in the previous 3 years, he will be served with a fixed penalty notice and receive a fine of 400eur and will be disqualified from driving for 6 months.

80mg – 100mg, as above, and where the driver is not ‘specified,’ will receive a fixed penalty notice with a fine of 400eur and disqualification for 6 months.

20mg – 80mg, as above and the driver is ‘specified,’ there’s a fine of 200eur and disqualification for three months.

Common among those offences outlined is that there is no attendance at the District Court, thus freeing up the Courts and its administrative web and, for a first time offender, it’s a small taste of what might have been.

Gay Byrne, speaking on behalf of the Road Safety Authority, attributed the push to save lives over the last eleven years to saving about 1,100 from road deaths, equivalent to the population of Kilkee or Mohill. When the lower drink driving limits were introduced in Queensland, Australia, there was a reduction of 18% in fatal road accidents and 14% in serious injury collision.

A few bare facts on drink driving in Ireland –

• Alcohol is estimated to contribute to 1 in 3 fatal crashes.
• In 1 in 4 fatal crashes, the driver had consumed alcohol.
• Any alcohol impairs driving and increases the risk of collision.
• Alcohol is twice as potent when a driver is tired.
• Almost 1 in 5 drivers killed on our roads were under 80mg of alcohol when killed.
• Every fatal road crash in Ireland costs the State 2.5 million euro.

At this time of year, with evenings shorter and darker, pedestrians and cyclists are more vulnerable. Be wise and wear a high visibility vest. Use the foothpath where provided and don’t be distracted when crossing the road. School goers are especially fond of using  mobile phones, walking in 3s and 4s and mostly oblivious to the traffic around them.

For the first time in modern driving, we are close to getting the death rate below 200 this year. Remember Willie’s words, ‘Men’s evil manners live in brass, their virtues we write in water.’