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Drink Driving Legislation approved by Cabinet

Transport Minister Shane Ross has welcomed the decision of the Government to approve for publication the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Speaking today, Minister Ross said:

This Bill proposes that instead of three penalty points,  drink drivers will receive a three month disqualification.

Despite considerable lobbying on behalf of Vintners’ groups to oppose this life saving measure, I am grateful to my colleagues at Cabinet for understanding that the arguments presented by the Vintners and other vested interest groups were not based on facts or reliable evidence.

The existing provision allowing people to get penalty points rather than a disqualification for drink driving sends the wrong message and needs to go. There is overwhelming support for this Bill as 91% of Irish adults, rising to 93% in rural areas – where most fatalities occur – indicate support for drink drivers being automatically disqualified.

This Bill is also supported by the RSA, AA and by road safety campaigners and will send a clear message that drink driving is wrong and will not be tolerated.