Fancy a pint? Car pool

UNDER new drink-driving legislation, anybody convicted of driving with more than 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in the system faces an automatic three-month driving ban.

The blood alcohol limit for learner drivers and professional drivers is 20mg.

This legislation will further deter motorists from risking a drinkdriving conviction and encourage them to adhere to the Road Safety Authority’s appeal to never drink and drive.

Of course, people are entitled to have a few drinks of an evening. Nursing a bottle of stout at home on your lonesome bears no comparison to enjoying a cool, velvety pint of black in the convivial atmosphere of the local pub.

It’s often left to kind neighbours to ensure that no rural dweller is denied a relaxing evening in the pub.

In that regard, the availability of a nightly rural transport service would be a great help. Another very feasible option is a ‘drop and collect’ by a local taxi or mini-bus service.

Whenever I’m travelling to a match or a social event with family or friends, we have an understanding that the driver remains alcohol-free. It’s a great system which is ideal for rural socialising and sports fixtures. If five people car pool, four occupants can enjoy a drink in comfort, knowing they have a designated alcohol-free driver to get them safely home.

If each one of us was to make a moral decision never to drive with alcohol in the system, the Road Safety Authority campaign for safety on our roads would get a welcome boost.

BILLY RYLE, Co. Kerry.