Cork gardaí to increase checkpoints in run-up to Christmas
255 From There For November Were Influence To Last The 1 For Same 289 Period Under Year, Detections January The Year This 30 Pared Driving To
Gardaí have warned motorists to expect more checkpoints in the run-up to Christmas as new figures show a 13% increase in the number of people arrested in the Cork city garda division for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Figures presented at this week’s meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) show there were 289 detections for driving under the influence from January 1 to November 30 this year, compared to 255 for the same period last year.
Chief Supt Tom Myers said it was disappointing to see the increase but he warned that anyone who decides to drive under the influence runs the risk of losing their driver’s licence or being involved in an accident.
“I am pleading with people, particularly coming into the festive seasons, that if you have any Christmas parties or functions, please don’t drink and drive, don’t drive under the influence of drugs, don’t use your mobile phone while driving, and mind your speed,” he said.
“By all means go out and have a good night but if you can’t get a taxi, make sure have a designated driver. Roads policing will be out in force over the Christmas period, trust me.”
Gardaí also defended the repeat positioning of a speed trap at a specific location on the N40 South Ring Road following criticism from Senator Jerry Buttimer about what he described as the “propensity for gardaí" to place a motorcycle garda speed check between the Kinsale Road roundabout and Bishopstown Court.
“I am fully supportive of road safety but it defies safety to have a garda on a motorbike, and putting up the speed gun as you drive east or west at this location — I don’t understand the logic of that,” Mr Buttimer said.
But Supt John Deasy said such speed traps are designed to deter speeding and bad driving practices.
He said he was travelling on the N40 recently when he came upon a five-car pile-up which caused significant traffic delays.
“When an accident happens on a motorway it’s significant, because the speeds involved are that bit higher, and there is more traffic,” he said.
“There is a deterrent aspect by putting a garda vehicle or a speed van at these locations. It’s to deter people from speeding and bad driving behaviour.
“Some of the traffic enforcement is because of complaints in the areas, some is because of traffic accident blackspots. You may agree or disagree with me, but they are the facts.”
Garda figures show there was a 33% decline in the number of collisions causing serious injury in the Cork City garda division, from 61 to 41, and a 10% increase in the number of collisions causing non-serious injury, from 171 to 188, but Independent Cllr Paudie Dineen expressed concern about the 3,220 material damage collisions in the garda division to date.
“That’s about nine a day. I would encourage people to slow down,” he said.