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Donegal's shocking 3,000
collisions
15.10.08
INISHOWEN road safety
campaign group PARC has described as "overwhelming"
the case for testing drivers for intoxicants at the
scene of fatal accidents.
PARC spokesperson Susan Gray was responding to
research outlined at an international road safety
conference showing that one-in-three crashes were
alcohol related and that, in a quarter of all
crashes, the driver had consumed alcohol.
Ms Gray said Dr Declan Bedford's research also shows
that a quarter of all pedestrian deaths related to
their own alcohol intake.
Meanwhile, a survey of public attitudes carried out
by PARC in March this year found that 99% of
respondents supported a lower alcohol limit for
drivers with more than half calling for a zero
alcohol limit for drivers. |
"PARC is calling on the
Minister for Transport to honour his publicly-stated
pledge to introduce on-the-spot breath testing of
those involved in road crashes. This pledge was made
exactly one year ago and was supposed to be
introduced within six months," said Ms Gray.
"For victims of road crashes, particularly
alcohol-related crashes, this is unacceptable and
this life saving measure should be introduced
without further delay."
Letterkenny General Hospital A&E consultant Dr Gerry
Lane also told the conference that some of the most
horrific injuries he and other staff at the hospital
saw were the result of car crashes. |
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He outlined startling
statistics showing there were 3,000 collisions in
2006 in Donegal and more than 1,000 attendances at
the emergency department.
He said there were 320 admissions on to the wards
and 1,085 bed days used up, not including the
deceased and all the "criticals" who were airlifted
to other medical centres. |
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