The National Safety Council wants people to understand the dangers of drink driving.
The National Safety Council (NSC) Christmas anti drink driving message is clear.
Don't ever drink and drive.
The Irish public will spend three hundred million pounds on alcohol during the Christmas period. Those aged 17 to 24 , and middle-aged men have been identified as the worst offenders when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Cartan Finnegan from the NSC, says those who are mature and responsible should show that maturity and never drink and drive.
Gardaí are introducing a range of new measures including evidential breath testing on a pilot basis. Deputy Garda Commissioner, Peter Fitzgerald, describes this test as,
The process whereby the person can breathe into this apparatus and this is scientifically developed to the point where it can analyse the breath and produce evidence that will be acceptable in court in relation to the amount of alcohol consumed.
Minister of State Bobby Molloy said that the battle against drink driving had not yet been won and appealed for public support for the road safety campaign.
This Christmas, 40,000 Garda checkpoints will be in operation around the country to detect the worst forms of driver behaviour, speeding and drunk driving.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 November 1998. The reporter is Teresa Mannion.
