Seamus Brennan, Sent new drink driving study
The report, details of which are published in this morning's Irish Independent, says that attempts to curb the number of road deaths from drink-driving have failed.
The Labour Party's Spokeswoman on Transport, Joan Burton, said the report exposed the failure of public policy and Government strategy in a matter of literally life and death importance.
The report has been sent to the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan.
The progress report was carried out by the Government's high level group on road safety, comprising senior civil servants from Government Departments, the Gardaí and road safety experts.
It says that approximately 91% of blood and urine samples and 82% of breath specimens analysed last year by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety were above the alcohol limit for driving.
The authors also say that 58% of blood and urine samples and 32% of breath tests were more than double the legal limit.
The report also raises concerns about the number of cyclists being killed. Last year 50 died, the highest number in five years.
The Government Strategy for Road Safety covering the five-year period up to this year had set a target of reducing fatalities by 20%.
However, the report expresses concern that large reductions in the early years were not maintained.
