Youth council wants cars to be installed with breathalyzers

The National Youth Council (KNZ) has come up with an innovative solution to clamp down on drink driving – to install breathalyzers in cars that will keep the car from starting if the driver is drunk.

In a reaction to the government’s proposed national alcohol policy, the KNZ said that ignition interlocks – which require drivers to blow into a breathalyzer before starting their cars and prevent the engine from starting if their blood-alcohol concentration is above a certain level – will be an effective strategy to clamp down on drink driving.

“Whilst national reducing the drinking limits may help avoid road accidents across the country, such a change in policy will not respond to the problem without proper methods of enforcement,” it said.

The council also proposed further education on the dangers of drink driving at schools and driving classes, and training programmes for servers and bartenders. It also called for the establishment of friendly, alcohol-free places where underage teens can collectively gather.

The government’s White Paper envisages harsher sanctions for drink drivers, with fines for first-time offenders increasing from €1,200 to €1,800 and for repeat offenders from €2,329.37 to €3,000.

The maximum national blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit will be reduced from 0.8g/l to 0.5g/l. The maximum BAC limit for learner drivers, novice drivers having held a driving license for less than two years, motorcyclists lorry drivers will be set even lower at 0.2g/l. Zero alcohol level limts will be imposed on drivers carrying passengers against payment, such as bus drivers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs.

The White Paper will also give local wardens the power to administer breathalyzer tests to motorists without having to wait for the police to arrive on site.  Harsher fines will be imposed on people found to have sold alcohol to minors, while alcohol products, including paraphernalia such as t-shirts, ashtrays, glasses and caps will be prohibited to minors. Alcohol manufactuers and retailers will have to set up a fund, which will be used for alcohol rehabilitation and educational campaigns.