This article is from page 9 of the 2006-05-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
THIS weekend’s road safety campaign will come amid revelations that the number of drivers arrested on suspicion of drink driving has risen by one-third.
The drink driving figures, up until yesterday (Monday), show that 156 drivers have been arrested for the offence in Clare, since the start of the year. This is an increase on 118 for the same period last year.
Nine people were arrested in Clare for drink driving over the past weekend – six of those were in Ennis and three in west Clare.
This weekend the Garda Road Safety campaign will get underway at midnight on Thursday, until midnight on Tuesday next. It will focus on drink driving, speeding, seat belts, while pedestrians and motorcyclists will be centre focus.
The head of the Clare Garda Division Traffic Corps, Inspector Moynihan said drink drivers will be caught.
“Research shows that all alcohol impairs. Alcohol is the primary cause of 25 per cent of all road collisions and 33 per cent of fatal collisions,” he said.
“Exercise appropriate care at all times, particularly when overtaking or turning right on busy roads. Allow adequate time for your journey, taking into consideration heavy holiday traffic,” he added.
Gardaí are advising drivers to be particularly careful at night-time, when the majority of serious crashes occur. Seventy per cent of drink driving incidents occur between 10pm and 4am.
The traffic corps in the county is to be extended within weeks, as part of a nationwide expansion of the unit.