Plan seeks driving alcohol-limit change

Ireland's third road safety strategy was published today amid claims it will save 400 lives by 2012 and announcements of a reduction in driving-test waiting times and the drink-driving alcohol limit.

Announcing the five-year strategy, Road Safety Authority (RSA) chairman Gay Byrne said the plan was a response to "25 years of neglect in this area".

He said the plan had come about as a result of "a collective determination to try to do something about the carnage on the roads" and was a "worthy objective".

Mr Byrne said it was "anathema" to him to describe the 27 people who had died every month on the roads this year in terms of statistics, insisting: "they are people".

Containing 126 road safety recommendations, the strategy includes the following key provisions:

• driving test waiting times will be reduced to eight weeks from 14, by March 2008;
• the legal blood alcohol level for drivers will be lowered, pending RSA advice;
• the provisional licence will be replaced by a learner permit from October 30th;
• the holder of a learner permit must be accompanied by a licensed driver at all times;
• from December 1st, learner permit holders must have held the permit for six months before taking a driving test;
• road deaths to be reduced to no greater than 60 fatalities per million by the end of 2012.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said: "This strategy must be a success. We owe it to the families of those who have tragically lost their lives over the years."

He emphasised the need for people to change driving behaviour. "If you don't push people out of their comfort zones - and that includes politicians as much as the driving public - then you won't make a real difference," he said.

Speaking about the move from provisional licensing to learner permits, Assistant Garda Commissioner Eddie Rock ruled out taking drivers found driving on permits without a licensed driver off the roads.

The gardaí would take a balanced approach in dealing with such offenders through advice, caution and prosecution in relation to drink-driving, he said.

© 2007 ireland.com