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GARDAÍ HAVE WARNED that there has been a “dramatic growth” in drug driving.
Speaking ahead of the October Bank Holiday weekend, Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary said that garda drug detections were “significantly higher” than in 2018.
Figures for 2019 show that there were 6,041 people caught driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs – a 6% increase on 2018.
“What’s of concern to us is the dramatic growth in the number of detections of drug driving. We know that the drug driving is mostly cannabis and cocaine but it is a worry for us and it is growing and it is increasing,” he said today during an event with the Road Safety Authority ahead of this weekend.
New RSA research also found that 75% of all fatalities between 10pm and 6am – off-peak times – tested positive for alcohol.
The data also singled out young, male drivers as far more likely to be involved in road deaths. Men account for 87% of road users killed between 10pm and 6am, as well as 87% of pedestrians killed during this period.
The RSA also found that over a third of drivers killed in off-peak times were aged under 25.
Cleary said that, based on data gathered by the RSA, gardaí would be focusing efforts on non-peak hours more so than ever before this weekend.
“We have to work to our strengths. If the data is telling us that’s when the fatalities are happening, we will have to mirror that with our enforcement operations,” he said.
There have been 118 people killed on Irish roads in 2019 – four more than this time last year.
Cleary said that young male drivers will be targeted this weekend by Gardaí. “Too many families have been touched by heartache and tragedy,” he said.
Moyagh Murdock, the CEO of the Road Safety Authority, called the figures “stark”.
“It is sad to see young males are still over-represented in the figures,” she said.
She echoed the concerns about drug driving, calling it an “emerging trend”.
“At best you’ll be caught,” she said. “But at worst you may kill yourself or someone else.”
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Pity, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
I just ate a free lunch, the best lunch ive had in a long time!
Ehm, are you new to the internet? Prettry much everything is free if you know where to look.
I bought my lunch. It was also good. Looking forward to my dinner. mmmmm.
what did you have matthew?
Where did who have Matthew?
Yup Spotify Premium (unlimited skips, unlimited playlists etc) & Pandora One is all free if you know where to look. (of course you need to use hola to listen to Pandora as it’s currently blocked here)
TMWNN, they’re watching you.
Where are you using Spotify Premium for free?
Download a modded Apk file and you are good to go…
You have a free internet connection and computer?
Bummer. Grooveshark was browser based so it was handy in an office if you weren’t allowed to install software like Spotify. C’est le vie.
Download it through Firefox and it should work. Did for me anyway.
I’ll say it again. Piracy is destroying the music industry. You trying playing the guitar with a hook..
Nearly ten years building playlists, and all wiped out in one foul swoop!!
@Trevor beale It was a damp squid anyway.
Yes and it can’t be put on “a pedal stool” either….
Do you youngsters realise you can make your own music?
How to get down with the kids Neal.
have your say