Worrying increase in drink driving detections

IN spite of persistent warnings from Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA), drink-driving is becoming more prevalent in Kerry – much to the disgust of everyone who attended last week’s Joint Policing Committee meeting in Killorglin.

Gardaí found that most detections came from Kerry’s more urbanised areas – and it’s our young male drivers who are most inclined to take a chance.

“I just cannot comprehend how people, in this day and age, get behind the wheel after having alcohol,” Chief-superintendent Tom Myers said in response to a rise of some ten per cent. “With all the messages we’re putting out there, all the work being done by agencies around the county, including ourselves, Kerry County Council, and the RSA – we’re still up ten per cent.”

In analysing the statistics, Inspector Tony Sugrue of the Castleisland-based Traffic Corps was particularly dismayed at the age-breakdown.

“The age profile is continuing to drop,” Inspector Sugrue said. “The most alarming figure is that you have 65 detections for males between 21 and 30. It’s astounding, because we were all of the opinion they were the one age group not engaging with it. We need to find out why it’s happening and how we can reverse the trend.”

“The perception is out there that drunk-driving primarily happens in rural areas, but our detections are mainly happening in urban areas like Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, Cahersiveen, Kenmare, Killorglin, all the bigger areas. All those centres have taxi services.

“I am aware there is an issue in Killarney with some taxis not prepared to travel far outside of the town, that they want the handy runs around town. This issue has been brought to the attention of the taxi regulator. But I think that’s just one reason – it’s not the sole reason.”

However, Inspector Sugrue and Chief Supt Myers were unequivocal at Friday’s meeting in sending a warning to those willing to take a chance, citing both a large increase in the number of mid-point detections, and the imminent arrival in three to four weeks of seven extra members to the county’s Traffic Corp, as major boosts in the battle against drink-driving.

“It’s disappointing, but we’ll be on the roads,” Chief-superintendent Myers said. “If you want to take a chance and drive with drink, there’s a good chance you’ll be caught, and if you continue to do so, it’s inevitable you will be caught,” he warned.

Chief Supt Tom Myers