|
Record number of drivers caught drinking
Garda arrests of drink-driving suspects have hit a record high - despite the public campaign to persuade motorists to stay on the dry. Senior garda officers last night described the latest statistics as a disappointment and said the rise in arrests could not be attributed solely to increased checkpoints and surveillance. The figures show that gardai arrested 487 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol between March 12 and 18. This is a record total of drink "captures" and compares with only 406 for the corresponding period last year.
Learners to be tested on new road rules
Learner drivers were warned yesterday that from May 1 they would be tested on the new Rules of the Road.
Test candidates will now have to carry out new technical checks before they take to the road. Published last week, all learners taking the driving test have just over a month to get to grips with the first overhaul of the driving guide in 12 years.
Speeding offences detection up by 30,000
The number of speeding offences detected by gardaí increased last year by over 30,000 compared with 2005, new Garda figures indicate. There were 175,517 detected speeding offences in 2006, compared with 143,651 the previous year, while the number of people caught not wearing their seatbelt also increased, from 18,084 in 2005 to 26,107 last year. There were 17,788 drink-driving offences last year, compared with 13,369 in 2005.
Number of deaths in workplace down 33%
The incidence of workplace deaths fell by almost one-third last year. However the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has expressed concern at the continuing high rate of farm accidents. Some 50 work-related deaths were reported to the HSA last year, compared with 74 fatalities in 2005. The large reduction is explained by the almost halving of the number of construction-related deaths. Just 12 people were killed in this sector in the past year, compared with 23 in 2005
New law allows scrappage of old cars for free
Owners wishing to dispose of their old cars can now have them dismantled and recycled free of charge after a new law came into force on January 1st. The new Waste Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations bring Ireland in line with an EU environmental ruling known as the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) directive, which ensures that carmakers are now fully responsible for the cost and administration of dismantling and recycling the 120,000-plus vehicles that come to the end of their lives each year in Ireland.
Ban
on mobile use by drivers in force
Drivers who hold mobile phones while driving will be liable to a maximum fine of €2,000 and up to four penalty points for each offence from today. The only defence for the use of a hand-held mobile phone in vehicles will be where a driver must contact the emergency services, using the numbers 999 or 112 for the Garda, fire service or ambulance, coast guard and mountain rescue services
|
