Random breath testing

[dahamsta]

• Ahern makes case for random breath tests
• Cullen confirms plans to introduce random breath tests

In the first article, Ahern apparently stated that “26 people had lost their lives in the past two weeks, while an average of over one a day had died this year”. This looks suspiciously like Ahern bumping numbers by suggesting that all of those road deaths were caused by drink driving -- does anyone know the facts here?

I dislike this kind of law intensely, it's USA/PATRIOT-style putting the cart before the horse, hit and miss policing.

adam

[monkey magic]

I dislike this kind of law intensely, it's USA/PATRIOT-style putting the cart before the horse, hit and miss policing.

adam

hmmm, still something has to be done about deaths on the road, and i know drink driving is still a major problem from what ive seen

[pete]

How many years now have FF had to make these road law changes?

I got stopped monday night by checkpoint & they never check tax or insurance which is very unusual. Must have been rare drink driving checkpoint or else looking for gangland hitmen.

[ccfcgirl]

Lads I cant stop laughing I read the topic wrong and thought It was random breast tests..................

[crc]

Lads I cant stop laughing I read the topic wrong and thought It was random breast tests..................

I'm on my way to Templemore!

[John83]

Much as I dislike the police being able to pester people who haven't done anything wrong, I'd be willing to give up that much to help stop other road users from putting me at risk. I'm open to other workable suggestions though.

[Risteard]

In the first article, Ahern apparently stated that “26 people had lost their lives in the past two weeks, while an average of over one a day had died this year”. This looks suspiciously like Ahern bumping numbers by suggesting that all of those road deaths were caused by drink driving -- does anyone know the facts here?

You're dead right and unfortunately i'm in a very well-informed position to tell you that i know 2 of the 26 cases and drink was not involved.
I agree with yer opinion on the act.
As if Garda resources weren't stretched enough without sendind them out to harass the general public (not the bad drivers as such.)

Also i thought these handle changes/mergers were limited to one.
Someone get Vetinari on the case.

Edit = A face below says my opinion perfectly.
Education, Education, education.

[A face]

Why cant they just tackle the driving education and test process and be done with the whole problem. People in this country have a very good chance of filtering through the system not knowing how to actually drive safely. It is crazy .... Driving Instructors is a complete mixed bag and it is all over the place. There is nothing stopping you from sitting you test without having had one lesson.

People also never get to learn about other aspects other than driving such as traffic and how it manages itself and how bad driving contributes to it. Also speed and that whole issue, the science behind it and how out of control you can actually be if you need to react. Driving manners and behaviour, road rage and all that stuff. The list goes on .... and if people knew about it, it would probably resolve an awful lot.
Can blame people for driving poorly if they have never been thought, or if they have never had to think about it barr the driving test, which actually isn't a proper test at all.
Their answer is to bring out this radical measure to bring us closer to being a police state yet again. ffs

[Eire06]

Random breath testing

It is being proposed that random breath test be introduced as a measure to help the problem of drink driving.

At the moment it is illegal for Gardaí to stop motorists at random and breath test them, they can only ask them to take a breath test if the form the opinion that they may be under the influence.
The Oireachtas Enterprise & Small Business Committee have asked for a referendum on it to let the people decide!

I think it should be allowed and think it would have a major impact on the number drink drivers on our roads!

I would have no problem in providing a breath sample if stopped but many people are saying its unconstitutional and shouldn't be!! I would presume most people are all for random breath testing! But I could be wrong what do you think??

[finlma]

I'm all in favour. 399 deaths on the road last year is way to high. I know a lot of peole, especially the older generation, that continue to drink and drive. I spent a good bit of time on the roads over Xmas/New Year and didn't see a single check-point.

[Dublin12]

If you have nothing to hide it's not a hassle to get checked.Anyone that drinks and drives are nothing but mugs imo.I'd be for it.

[dcfcsteve]

It's a good idea.

I'm fairly sure they can do random testing in England. I got stopped late one night before Christmas for driving a few yards with no lights on (newish car - I forgot ). The guy asked had I had a drink, and I told him that being honest I'd had one. Because I said that, he said he had to breathalyse me, but I'm sure he could've anyway.

Though this was the annoying bit - because of a lack of funds, each Police car apparently doesn't carry its own dedicated breath-test kit. So I had to stand at the side of the road in freezing cold fog at 1:30am at night for 25mins -with a friend waiting in the car having no idea what was going on - whilst they radioed and waited for another car that had one to come and meet us!

So if the Gardai do introduce this positive meaaure, I hope for the sake of Irish motorists they've got the funding in-place to equip all vehciles accordingly ! Otheriwse - make sure you've got a nice warm jacket in your car (I didn't !)

[pete]

I think this is a disgracefull attempt to sell more mints.

[SÓC]

Wasnt there some figure realsed that drink is a major factor in 30% of road deaths? Anseo

I think fair enough, the whole idea of Government is that you ceade some of your liberity for security. Im more than happy to be stopped every now and again and give a random test if it increases the chances of me not coming up against a drunk driver

[Bald Student]

I dislike this kind of law intensely, it's USA/PATRIOT-style putting the cart before the horse, hit and miss policing.

adam

I agree with you Ken in that I also dislike this type of law but I dislike even more people being killed so overall I'm in favour.

I also agree with the point A-Face made earlier about driver education but I think that that's not the only problem. Obviously noone turns up drunk for their test or speeds during it. There's no education issue here simply poor behaviour. The solution to people not knowing how to handle their car is education. The solution to people knowingly handling their car badly is enforcement.