Plan to overhaul road traffic legislation comes amid anger over conviction rate.
The Government is planning the biggest overhaul of road traffic legislation in 50 years as part of a fresh effort to crack down on drink-driving and other safety concerns.
The Irish Times reported on Monday that six out of 10 people due before the courts for drink-driving were able to escape without a conviction.
Many solicitors say the low conviction rate is linked to technicalities and loopholes in the law, as well as issues such as Garda resources.
A spokeswoman for Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said the Government is planning to consolidate a complex mix of primary and secondary legislation dating back to the early 1960s.
In the meantime, officials are focusing on the enactment of the Road Traffic Bill (2015) which will introduce roadside testing for drugs similar to those used to test for alcohol.
Road safety campaigners have long called for a root-and-branch review of road traffic legislation.
Susan Gray of the Parc road safety campaign said: “The system is broken and the sad fact remains that many more lives will be lost – and many others will be horribly injured – as a result of foot-dragging.”
She said a forensic review of legislation is needed to ensure drivers are not able to escape conviction on technicalities.
Source: Carl O'Brien, Barry Roche, David Labanyi, The Irish Times, 20/10/15
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