Bus driver was nine times over alcohol limit

Gardaí found man ‘slumped over wheel’

A HIGHLY intoxicated bus driver was arrested on Tuesday night ‘slumped over the wheel’ when members of the public phoned gardaí after witnessing him driving dangerously down the M7 motorway.

The 65-year-old driver, was nine times over the legal driving limit when found by gardaí on the M7 near Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

The driver, who has no previous criminal convictions, had earlier dropped a group of passengers to Dublin airport to catch a flight.

Sources say he had been due to stay at a hotel in Kildare after the airport drop off. However, he missed his exit for Kildare when travelling southbound on the motorway.

He then took the next turn and was then travelling northbound when gardaí detected him.

Sources say that he pulled into a lay-by when gardaí approached and that he was ‘slumped over the wheel’. The source claimed that a wine bottle was found on a passenger seat.

When gardaí spoke to the driver, he was said to be ‘slurring his words’. He was arrested when he was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

It is understood his breath test registered at 84 milligrammes

‘Slurring his words’

(mg) per 100 millilitres of breath. This reading meant the driver was almost nine times over the legal limit to drive.

The drink-drive limit for professional drivers is nine milligrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, which is lower than that for regular motorists.

The arrest took place just after 7pm on the M7 near Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The driver was brought to Naas Garda station and charged in relation to the incident. He was granted station bail.

He is due to appear in Naas District Court on October 17.

New drink driving legislation came into effect this summer. Under the new law a driver who is found to be over the limit will now face an automatic driving ban for three months.

The limit stays the same at blood alcohol level of 50mg for experienced drivers. However, it is lower for learner drivers and professional drivers, at a blood alcohol level of 20mg.

One standard drink is considered enough to put someone at risk of going over the limit. This includes a glass of beer, a small glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits.

However, the amount which will put someone over the limit varies from person to person. Road safety experts advocate that nobody planning to drive should consume alcohol.

According to the Road Safety Authority, alcohol is estimated to be a factor in one in three fatal collisions.