THE head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Donegal has welcomed a decrease in the number of drink driving detections over the Christmas period from last year.
Inspector Michael Harrison confirmed that between December 1, 2011 and January 2, 2012 there were 30 arrests for drink driving in the county – down by six on the same period last year. Concern had been expressed last year at the level of drink driving detections despite icy driving conditions.
Inspector Harrison stressed that drivers needed to be aware of the new legislation and confirmed that a number of the detections made over the holiday period were made the “day after”.
“While the decease indicates that people are starting to be sensible they need to be aware that anyone involved in an injury collision must be breathalysed and drivers can also be found to be over the limit the following day after a night’s drinking.
“I would appeal to people not to drink and drive. I am aware of a case where a driver the next day was completely in the right when a collision happened. Because the collision involved injury, he was breathalysed and found to be over the limit and was arrested. People need to be aware of the time it takes the body to process out alcohol.
The average bottle of beer is one and a half units and it takes the body an hour to process one unit.
“Professional drivers should be aware that the limit is 20 mg for them and how easily they could put their livelihoods at risk,” Inspector Harrison added.
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