Convicted drink drivers may soon have to use breathalyser to get behind wheel
The plans are part of phase two of a Government initiative to end drink driving for good and bring down fatal road accidents rates.
Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will soon bring a memo to Cabinet on the Phase 2 Action Plan for the Road Safety Strategy.
The draft memo, seen by the Irish Sunday Mirror, stated that the strategy has the 'target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030' and to achieve 'Vision Zero', or as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries, on Irish roads by 2050.
The Strategy is divided into three phases: 2021 to 2024, 2025 to 2027 and 2028 to 2030.
The plan that will be brought to Cabinet by Minister O'Brien is phase two of the strategy.
The draft report is divided into seven 'priority intervention areas,' including safe and healthy modes of travel, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road use, safe-work-related road use and 'post-crash response'.
One action, listed under both safe road use and safe-work related road use, suggests introducing more penalties for those who are caught drink driving.
This includes the use of Alcohol Ignition Interlocks, a breathalyser fitted to a vehicle preventing it from starting until the driver provides a breath sample below a designated limit.
It continues: 'The MBRS (Medical Bureau of Road Safety) tested and approved a number of interlock products in phase one of the strategy, to support the voluntary uptake of these devices, particularly by organisations with large vehicle fleets.
'In phase two, proposals will be brought forward, based on expert medical research, for the possible mandatory use of alcohol interlocks, alongside rehabilitation courses, as a sanction for drunk driving in certain cases.'
The report suggests that this will 'lay the groundwork for further action on their deployment in phase three', which will span between 2028 and 2030.
As of June 19, there have been 77 people killed on Irish roads so far this year.
According to the report, if Ireland wants to reach Vision Zero by 2050, annual road fatalities would need to drop to 72 by 2030.
There were 172 road deaths last year, which is above the target of 122 to meet Vision Zero.
Other actions in the plan include expanding the 'efficiency and capability of camera-based enforcement to improve road safety by changing driver behaviour'.
This will involve using cameras to 'automatically detect mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts'.
It will also expand 'the use of cameras for traffic management improvements and enforcement of other offences where road safety is likely to also benefit'.
Following the Speed Limit Review in 2023, the report recommends continuing with its implementation, including reducing the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100kph to 80kph and bylaws to extend the number of 30kph zones.
The Department of Transport will publish a strategy to take a 'systems approach' to reducing kilometres travelled, air pollution and congestion. The RSA will be tasked with publishing the Road Collision Facts every two years and reviewing the content of the Rules of the Road.
It will also analyse hospital discharge records to 'quantify the number of road users hospitalised following road traffic collision' and the number sustaining serious injuries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
'It's not your story to tell' - Irish road victims group calls for end to crash scene videos
The Irish Road Victims Association has sent a very powerful message to the general public to stop the practice of filming accident sites and images of crashes. Taking to social media to issue their plea, the IRVA had very powerful words for people who continue to share crash scenes of accidents that happen on the country's roads. It's not your story to tell, its not 'content' and it's not 'entertainment'. The Irish Road Victims Association has sent a very powerful message to the general public to stop the practice of filming accident sites and images of crashes. Pic: Getty Images 'It may be someone's worst day, or someone's last day'. The IRVA says when you livestream or share photos from a crash, you are effectively stripping people of their dignity, risking families seeing the footage or images before they have been officially told of the accident, and you cause untold trauma to loved ones of the victims. The IRVA added 'If you wouldn't want your family to find out this way, don't do it to someone else's. Taking to social media to issue their plea, the IRVA had very powerful words for people who continue to share crash scenes of accidents that happen on the country's roads. Pic: Shutterstock Don't film, don't share, report the incident and step back. The organisation hopes this new campaign will make people think twice about using their mobile phones for anything other than calling the emergency services at the scene of an accident. Early in 2025, it was reported that the number of road deaths is down 4% over the last year. The IRVA says when you livestream or share photos from a crash, you are effectively stripping people of their dignity, risking families seeing the footage or images before they have been officially told of the accident, and you cause untold trauma to loved ones of the victims. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Figures indicate 174 people died in 160 collisions in 2024, down from 181 deaths in 170 collisions in 2023. It comes as the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 50% by 2030. The Government is also aiming to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries in Ireland by the year 2050. The figures were published by the Road Safety Authority following an analysis from provisional fatal collision reports from An Garda Síochána. They reveal a high proportion of male fatalities and people aged 25 and under, as well as a high number of fatalities in the evening between 4pm and 8pm. Meanwhile, the highest number of deaths (23) was in Dublin, followed by Cork (19), Mayo (19) and Donegal (17). Sam Waide, chief executive of the RSA, said: 'Despite this profound loss, the reduction in the number of fatalities this year is a very modest but important step in reversing the high number of road deaths we've seen over the past two years,' he said. 'This progress underscores the urgency to intensify our efforts. To truly turn the tide, as part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy, we must harness more technology, deliver impactful awareness campaigns and continue road safety education, to create a safer future.'
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I'm afraid for my children' – Hundreds attend anti-racism protest outside the Dáil following brutal attack in Tallaght
Hundreds gathered outside the Dáil today in solidarity against racist violence, following a brutal, unprovoked attack on an Indian national in Tallaght last week. Organised by members of Ireland's migrant community, the protest called attention to a growing sense of fear and vulnerability among immigrants, and demanded urgent action from the government. The victim, an Indian man in his 40s, had arrived in Ireland weeks before the incident, and was attacked at Parkhill Lawns in the Kilnamanagh area around 6pm on Saturday, July 19. Gardaí have confirmed they are currently investigating the assault. A vigil was also held in Tallaght last night, drawing significant support from the Indian community. Ajay Shaji, attending the protest as a member of Migrant Nurses Ireland, described the incident as "shocking" and deeply traumatic for the wider migrant community. 'The migrant community was under stress and really shocked at the news,' he said. 'I don't know how traumatic it must be for him. He was here for [just weeks] and had to go through something like that. There are no words to explain it.' Kavi Raj, an Indian national living in Tallaght, called the incident 'horrifying' and explained that attacks like this need to be addressed at government level. 'We live in Tallaght - we are afraid to walk outside,' he said. "Immigrants and Irish people can live side by side, hand in hand,' Kavi said. Shinith Ak, who has lived in Kilkenny since 2009, said the attack left him 'ashamed.' ADVERTISEMENT 'One of my family members was attacked, and when I told my hometown back in India, they said, 'Come back – you're not safe there.'' Rofayda Mohamed, a mother who also attended the protest, expressed her growing fear for her children. 'The hate is rising. I was horrified, shocked, actually - that this can happen on our streets' she said. 'I'm afraid for my children, to go out, to play. This is not acceptable.' Speaking at the protest, Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger called the attack 'repulsive'. 'These attacks are not isolated. They're under-reported and under-investigated,' she said. 'We keep hearing stories from the migrant community, from people of colour in Ireland, about attacks like this.' Ms Coppinger stressed the need for community-based, anti-racist networks and policies that address the root causes of social tension – including the housing crisis. Gardaí have appealed to the public not to share or repost social media footage related to the attack, as their investigation continues. Related topics Chloe McPolin
Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Sunday World
Widow of man killed in Creeslough explosion sues over fatal blast
James O'Flaherty was 48-years-old when he lost his life in the explosion which occurred at 3.17 pm on October 7th 2022. Emergency services at the scene after an explosion at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal Pic:Mark Condren 8.10.2022 Mourners at the funeral mass of Creeslough victim James O'Flaherty at St Mary's Church Derrybeg. Photo by Steve Humphreys12th October 2022. THE WIDOW of a father-of-one killed in the deadly Creeslough explosion has initiated a personal injury case in the High Court. Papers were lodged before the High Court on June 17th by solicitors Damien Tansey on behalf of James O'Flaherty's widow Tracey O'Flaherty naming 11 parties to be summonsed. The parties include Danny and Annette Lafferty, the siblings who owned the petrol station destroyed in the explosion, Applegreen, Vivo/Shell Ltd, the Duntally Wood apartment owners management company, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the Registrar of Gas Installers of Ireland and Donegal Co. Council. Two other named individuals and an architecture company have also been summonsed. Mourners at the funeral mass of Creeslough victim James O'Flaherty at St Mary's Church Derrybeg. Photo by Steve Humphreys12th October 2022. Contacts from the Sunday World with solicitors Damien Tansey Solicitors did not elicit a response this week. The company, which has offices in Dublin and Sligo, is known for its expertise personal injury claims and says it helped clients 'win some of the largest compensation payouts through the Irish courts.' James O'Flaherty News in 90 Seconds - July 26th James O'Flaherty was 48-years-old when he lost his life in the explosion which occurred at 3.17 pm on October 7th 2022. Mr O'Flaherty, was originally from Sydney in Australia, but was living with his wife Tracey and son Hamish in Dunfanaghy, a village about 10 minutes' drive from Creeslough. 12-year-old Hamish was sitting in Volvo in the service station forecourt when the explosion demolished a shop, filling station and a block of apartments. Emergency services at the scene after an explosion at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal Pic:Mark Condren 8.10.2022 In total, the explosion caused the deaths ten people and left eight hospitalised. Investigators later identified an accidental gas leak as a possible cause. At Mr. O'Flaherty's funeral mass, tribute was paid to the caring husband and father by Fr Brian O Fearraigh. He said Mr O'Flaherty lived for his wife Tracey and son Hamish. "James showered his loving son and wife in hugs and kisses every day," he said. "James O'Flaherty was a generous and a kind man. He loved chatting to other people and he just wanted to spend all his free time with you - his family. "He had honesty and integrity in abundance. "He was a man who had high morals which I'm told are traits and values that he shared with his late father." Hamish described his father as a "great man", who worked "very hard and very long each day". "He wore a jacket with a huge paint stain on the side of it everywhere. He managed this by leaning on a wall which was still wet with paint," he said. "He wore the jacket everywhere. To the shops, to the movies, to the beach." He urged mourners to "cherish" their families. "Be grateful, for they won't be there forever… Use the time you have wisely," he said. A gardai investigation into the circumstances of the deadly explosion continues. A total of six arrests have taken place but no charges have yet been brought against any individual. Earlier this month, at the July Plenary meeting of Donegal County Council, 100% Redress Councillor Tomas Sean Devine submitted a motion calling on Donegal County Council to purchase the site where the explosion by way of negotiation with the owner or with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). The motion also asked the Council to sit down with the bereaved families and design a memorial garden in memory of all those affected. However, the motion did not pass and councillors will instead hold a workshop about the future of the site.
