Increased intoxicated driving in Tipperary

Concern has been expressed over an increased number of drink and drug driving offences detected in Tipperary this year.

Despite significantly fewer Mandatory Intoxication Testing (MIT) checkpoints, a slight increase of 2% was recorded in the number of intoxicated driving offences recorded in the year to date compared to the same period in 2022. There was a total of 183 offences so far this year, 45 of which were drug driving offences.

Presenting these figures at last month's meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee, Chief Superintendent Colm O'Sullivan said they represent an increasing trend that is concerning to him and his colleagues.

Cllr John Crosse called for mandatory drug testing at all garda checkpoints. He said there is a small cohort of young people driving under the influence of drugs and they are “a complete menace on the road - they're the problem”, Cllr Crosse said, calling on the gardaí to concentrate their resources on these offenders rather than prosecuting people living in isolated areas who want to drive to and from their local pub.

While he did not support drink driving, Cllr Crosse said people that drive after a few drinks are “much safer” than people who drive under the influence of drugs.

Superintendent Eddie Golden said anyone who drives after drinking alcohol is putting themselves and others at risk, and such behaviour could not be condoned by the gardaí. He said Tipperary gardaí are testing for drugs as well as alcohol at checkpoints and following serious road accidents.

“We have testing facilities for drugs and they are being used,” Supt Golden assured the meeting.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan said drink driving could not be tolerated because alcohol diminishes a driver's capacity to deal with situations presented. In response to questions from Cllr Anne Marie Ryan over the reduced number of MIT checkpoints - down 27% from the 2,580 conducted last year - he said there are several reasons why checkpoints do not proceed as planned. Bad weather may make it unsafe to conduct a checkpoint, or the gardaí may get called away to another incident, such as a traffic collision, theft or domestic disturbance. But he said local gardaí have conducted other checkpoints that are not included in the MIT figures.

‘INVINCIBLE’ DRIVERS

Several speakers complained about speeding in many parts of Tipperary. The number of speeding offences in the year to date was down 9% on the same period last year, but Chief Supt O'Sullivan described the 2,225 offences detected in 2023 as a nevertheless “startling figure”. He was also disappointed to see the number of non-wearing of seat belt offences increase again, up 22% to 202 offences.

The Chief Supt spoke of being “stunned” at the driving he witnessed last Friday morning, with motorists overtaking in bad weather conditions. Just because a speed limit is 120kmph or 80kmph does not mean a motorist has to drive at that speed in bad weather, he reasoned.

Deputy Mattie McGrath called for an education campaign on driver behaviour. He too was alarmed at what he saw in “torrential rain and people driving as if it was a summer day”. There are drivers that “think they're invincible” and continue to drive at the speed limit when conditions demand caution, Deputy McGrath commented.

SPEED LIMIT REVIEW

Cllr Noel Coonan noted that there will be a nationwide review of speed limits. But he said in often cases the speed limit is not the issue; the condition of the road is the problem. Reducing speed limits may only lead to build-ups of traffic and “lunatic” overtaking, he warned.

In agreement was Cllr Ger Darcy, who said drivers would lose patience if they are caught behind slow-moving vehicles and take risks that could lead to an accident. While he appreciated that it would take a lot of work, Cllr Darcy said every road needs to be looked at individually before deciding what speed limit should govern it.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan said speed limits are a matter for county councils and he agreed that a lot of work is involved in the review. He said it could be 2025 before any speed limits are changed.

Director of Services with Tipperary Co Council Brian Beck said guidance is awaited from the Dept of Transport ahead of the speed limit review. Transport Infrastructure Ireland would have responsibility for national primary and secondary routes, while the council's brief would be local and regional roads; councillors would have a say in the review.

Those present joined in expressing sympathy to the families of those killed in the tragic accidents in Clonmel and Cashel last month, and indeed all who have died in crashes on Tipperary roads.