Fine Gael's plan for Mandatory Breath Testing

[pfkf]

Tuesday 17th October 2006

Mitchell unveils plans for mandatory breath testing at road accidents

Garda speed blitz welcome - but Govt must support FG safety measures

Fine Gael Transport Spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell TD will put rigorous new road safety proposals before Dáil Éireann tonight (Tuesday), including mandatory breath testing for all drivers involved in an accident. Deputy Mitchell called on the Government to support her Road Traffic Bill, which will impose harsher measures for dangerous driving, and allow for drug testing of drivers in the future.

“I welcome reports that Gardaí are preparing a nationwide blitz on speeding by targeting 400 of the country’s most dangerous roads. I hope this indicates that law enforcement agencies are taking a more scientific approach to road safety by targeting the causes of accidents.

“However, there are still far too many loopholes in our road traffic legislation, such as the lack of clearly delineated penalties for dangerous driving, which is the most serious driving offence. The Fine Gael Road Traffic Bill has three specific proposals:

• Mandatory breath testing at accident scenes;
• Mandatory disqualification for dangerous driving;
• Ending the automatic early lifting of driving disqualifications.

“The Bill would also provide the Minister with the power to regulate for drug testing in the future. Drug testing of drivers is currently being piloted in Australia and the UK. It is time the Irish authorities woke up to this problem and launched a similar pilot scheme.

“What’s more, the Bill would involve injured parties or bereaved relatives in the process by ensuring that they are notified when a disqualified motorist is seeking the return of their licence, and when the licence is finally returned.

“These proposals will play a crucial role in enforcing safety on our roads. The Government parties must not veto this Bill simply because it has been drafted by Fine Gael. Transport Minister Martin Cullen had promised his own Road Traffic Bill but there is little hope for such a measure before the election.

“Meanwhile, I would urge the Gardaí to ensure that the new speeding blitz will form part of a broader effort to improve road safety. Given the lack of any significant State research into the causes of accidents, it would be wrong to assume that speed is the only factor. Drinking, fatigue, mobile phones, road surfaces lighting and vehicles are all potential contributors. My colleague Shane McEntee has proposed an annual audit of all non-national roads and road signs to ensure they meet these minimum standards.”

[Corcaigh33]

2 points

1. She can't be serious?

2. Wait til Labour see this - that will put an stop to her gallop.

[jjcarroll]

2 points

1. She can't be serious?

2. Wait til Labour see this - that will put an stop to her gallop.

What is wrong with these proposals?

[Corcaigh33]

And just on the merits of her proposal she has clearly ignored one of the main causes of accidents on the roads (particularly of Cork) today - non-nationals driving without tax and insurance at inordinate amounts of speed.

BTW before anyone calls me a racist I am talking about road safety here not the fact they are non-nationals.

I wonder how that issue didn't make it into her press release - maybe it is because that wouldn't fly with her prospective Labour colleagues either.

[White Horse]

This appears to be a serious proposal and one that merits consideration.

[rover]

And just on the merits of her proposal she has clearly ignored one of the main causes of accidents on the roads (particularly of Cork) today - non-nationals driving without tax and insurance at inordinate amounts of speed

driving without tax and insurance is already a crime - non-nationals or not.

how can olivia mitchell legislate against something thats already a crime?

[Pidge]

And just on the merits of her proposal she has clearly ignored one of the main causes of accidents on the roads (particularly of Cork) today - non-nationals driving without tax and insurance at inordinate amounts of speed.

BTW before anyone calls me a racist I am talking about road safety here not the fact they are non-nationals.

Jews control our banking system and use it for their benefit.

BTW before anyone calls me a racist I am talking about the banking system here not the fact that they are Jews.

[Corcaigh33]

Tuesday 17th October 2006

Mitchell unveils plans for mandatory breath testing at road accidents

Garda speed blitz welcome - but Govt must support FG safety measures

Fine Gael Transport Spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell TD will put rigorous new road safety proposals before Dáil Éireann tonight (Tuesday), including mandatory breath testing for all drivers involved in an accident.

Am I wrong in thinking the Gardaí can do this anyway under the random breath testing legislation and would do it at the scene of accidents as a matter of course if they suspected someone of being DUI?


Deputy Mitchell called on the Government to support her Road Traffic Bill, which will impose harsher measures for dangerous driving, and allow for drug testing of drivers in the future.

So now the Gardaí will be trained in taking blood samples with intravenous needles?

“I welcome reports that Gardaí are preparing a nationwide blitz on speeding by targeting 400 of the country’s most dangerous roads. I hope this indicates that law enforcement agencies are taking a more scientific approach to road safety by targeting the causes of accidents.

“However, there are still far too many loopholes in our road traffic legislation, such as the lack of clearly delineated penalties for dangerous driving,

I thought there were now over 60 clearly defined driving offences with respective penalty points??

which is the most serious driving offence. The Fine Gael Road Traffic Bill has three specific proposals:

• Mandatory breath testing at accident scenes;
• Mandatory disqualification for dangerous driving;

So if I am taking a loved one to hospital for an emergency and am doing over 120K on the link road to the Regional here in Cork I should be automatically disqualified from driving? Automatically?

• Ending the automatic early lifting of driving disqualifications.

“The Bill would also provide the Minister with the power to regulate for drug testing in the future. Drug testing of drivers is currently being piloted in Australia and the UK. It is time the Irish authorities woke up to this problem and launched a similar pilot scheme.

“What’s more, the Bill would involve injured parties or bereaved relatives in the process by ensuring that they are notified when a disqualified motorist is seeking the return of their licence, and when the licence is finally returned.

Why? This is way too much like the American justice system that says relatives can have a say in the severity of the punishment or parole. This is between the judicial system and the driver - no-one else.

“These proposals will play a crucial role in enforcing safety on our roads. The Government parties must not veto this Bill simply because it has been drafted by Fine Gael. Transport Minister Martin Cullen had promised his own Road Traffic Bill but there is little hope for such a measure before the election.

To be fair I don't know whether the Dept of Transport will be publishing a RT Bill so fair enough on that one.

“Meanwhile, I would urge the Gardaí to ensure that the new speeding blitz will form part of a broader effort to improve road safety. Given the lack of any significant State research into the causes of accidents, it would be wrong to assume that speed is the only factor. Drinking, fatigue, mobile phones, road surfaces lighting and vehicles are all potential contributors. My colleague Shane McEntee has proposed an annual audit of all non-national roads and road signs to ensure they meet these minimum standards.”

[Corcaigh33]

And just on the merits of her proposal she has clearly ignored one of the main causes of accidents on the roads (particularly of Cork) today - non-nationals driving without tax and insurance at inordinate amounts of speed

driving without tax and insurance is already a crime - non-nationals or not.

how can olivia mitchell legislate against something thats already a crime?

Not for non-nationals it isn't - the Gardaí can at best confiscate their cars - but cannot charge them.

[rockofcashel]

2 points

1. She can't be serious?

2. Wait til Labour see this - that will put an stop to her gallop.

What is wrong with these proposals?

Not that I have any sympathy for a person who causes an accident while under the influence of drink .. but if that person is suffereing from shock, then any breath test that would be taken from him/her, would most likely be subject to a constitutional challenge. Ms. Mitchell should know that too.