Ireland Finally Takes Drink Driving Seriously
After thousands of deaths (a couple of hundred so far this year), the Irish government has finally taken the first steps to change attitudes about Drink Driving (Drunk Driving in the US). We recently saw the introduction of random breathe tests for drivers. Previously the government had dragged their feet on this life saving operation because they had “legal” concerns when it came to the rights of Irish citizens. It came out earlier in the year that no legal issues existed and after a lot of pressure from private organizations, they finally enacted it.
Random breathe tests are very similar to the US model where the police set up a road block of sorts late at night and each person that comes through blows into the machine and if they are clean are allowed to be on their way in seconds. The old system was that the police needed to see someone doing something dangerous before they could pull them over and test them. With Gardai numbers unfortunately very low and resources stretched, it meant that the chances of getting caught were next to nothing. In fact the only proof that people were indeed participating in this type of behaviour were the hundreds being killed each year. That number is much more meaningful when put in the context that there are only 4 million inhabiting this small island.
Already last weekend deaths were cut and 25% more people arrested for this dangerous crime. Although 25% is smaller then I would have imagined, what has happened is the presence of the police has meant more people taking taxi’s home and avoiding the checkpoints all together. Truthfully, I would prefer to just see people do the right thing, not putting any lives at risk and have the arrests drop to 0.
So I have been going on and on over the last few years about the importance of random breathe tests so you would think I would now consider this issue solved. I do think, however, there are other steps that need to be taken. The biggest is for pubs and bars to take some responsibility and start treating designated drivers with a bit of respect. Currently a pint of the black stuff costs around €3.50-€4.00 where a soda or a water can set you back up to €5.00. TO me this is completely disgusting as it actually costs more to be sober. Publicans claim that those not drinking aren’t making them as much money hence the need to jack up prices. Why they can get away with openly admitting to ripping people off for being responsible is beyond me. What Ireland needs is for a few forward thinking Publicans to emulate the US model and offer designated drivers free water and other non alcoholic drinks in an effort to solicit responsible thinking. If a few brave few did this, the public pressure (and financial pressure) would mount and the rate of those killed by drunk drivers would drop again!
I don’t want to come off as a teetotaler. I believe everyone should have the right to drink and to have a good time. I just believe you can have all that and STILL be responsible and not put lives at risk. Taxi’s are everywhere in this country and I find it amazing when people balk at the €10 it might cost for a taxi for their party when they just spent €200-€300 on drink. Hopefully, society is encouraged by the number of lives saved by the newest measures and we see attitudes change!