Ireland South MEP raises concerns over testing for drink driving in both Clare and Tipperary

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú raises concerns over testing for drink driving in both Clare and Tipperary. The number of Mandatory Intoxication Testing (MIT) Checkpoints conducted by An Garda Síochána in Clare and Tipperary declined from 1228 checkpoints in Q4 2022 to 1175 checkpoints in Q4 2023.

Ireland South MEP and member of the EU Transport Committee, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has said Ireland should follow Spain's lead in reducing our blood alcohol limit for drink driving from 0.5 grammes per litre down to 0.2 grammes per litre. According to Ní Mhurchú, the new lower limit that Spain has introduced puts them on the same level as Norway and Sweden, two of the safest countries in Europe in terms of road safety.

Ní Mhurchú also feels we should follow the lead of countries like Italy and Germany in lowering the legal alcohol limits for Learner Drivers to zero. According to Ní Mhurchú, learner drivers should not be allowed to consume any alcohol when learning how to drive.

READ NEXT: Prayer group express 'great disappointment' at decision to close Clonmel's former Friary church

Ní Mhurchú made her comments in the European Parliament as we enter the Christmas party season, a flash point for road traffic deaths. 167 (*) people have been killed on our roads thus far in 2024.

Within the EU, 19 member states have a 0.5 legal limit, 3 countries have a 0.2 legal limit, Lithuania has a 0.4 legal limit and 4 EU member states have a zero legal limit for drink driving. The Czech Republic is one of 4 EU countries that operates a zero alcohol limit for drink driving. Road deaths in the Czech Republic in 2023 were the second lowest since records began in 1961.

READ NEXT: Tipperary TD releases statement on shock closure of Clonmel Friary