Statement

Weir welcomes reduction in drink drive figures

Posted on: February 15, 2010

"I welcome the announcement by the PSNI that the number of motorists who tested positive for drink driving this year is down 13% from the same period last year. This is despite the fact that there has been a very active campaign by the police to detect drink drivers over the Christmas period. This is particularly welcome in North Down where in recent years there have been too many families locally left bereaved as a result of driver negligence, and in particular people driving with excess alcohol. The reduced figures shows that for the vast majority of people the unacceptability of driving after alcohol has finally sunk in.
 
We cannot however afford to be complacent. It is clear that for a small minority the lethal cocktail of drink and motoring seems alright. As the police will indicate road traffic fatalities are very rarely genuine accidents, but are largely due to preventable causes such as driver negligence, drink or speed. The Police are playing their role in targeting the main causes of road deaths,a nd it is equally clear that there is a similar commitment from the DOE to embrace radical new ideas. In the end though, if we are to save heartbreaks in North Down and beyond, there is a duty on all of us to play our role in making our roads safer."