BY CRONAN SCANLON
A UNIQUE cross border Christmas drink driving campaign between Gardai and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was launched on Wednesday.
The head of Road Policing in Northern Ireland, Inspector Steven Hazlett performed the official launch with the head of Traffic Corps in North Donegal, Inspector Pat O'Donnell on the Derry side of the border at Bridgend.
According to both Inspectors, drink drivers along the border will no longer be able to escape across to the other jurisdiction to avoid detection.
"In the past we had problems with drink drivers using the border as a means to escape and that would affect the drinking behaviour of people near the border," Inspector O'Donnell explained.
"They feel that they can take a few more beers as they think that if they are stopped they can drive on across the border and escape detection. This campaign is a means of closing that chance of getting away".
Inspector O'Donnell said that both police forces would use direct phone links so that, if a car fails to stop for one of them, they can alert their colleagues across the border.
"So, they are going to be caught for drink driving either way and the only question is, in what jurisdiction will they be prosecuted," he added.
The Inspectors said that the campaign was the first of its kind and would initially run for the Christmas period and end on January 7, however, they are looking to extending it to all bank holiday campaigns next year.
Inspector O'Donnell said that there were 27 people killed during the same period last year in Donegal and that figure was down to 19 so far this year.
"However, 19 is still far too many and I would prefer that nobody died but things are moving in the right direction," he said.
"Traditionally, Christmas is a period when people indulge more than they normally do and we're putting the message out there that it doesn't matter what side of the border you are on, the same approach is being taken," concluded Insp O'Donnell.
Inspector Hazlett said:
"There will be no hiding place for drunk drivers. If anyone tries to do a runner we will have joint co-ordination on both sides of the border to stop them".
According to Inspector Hazlett, last year's Northern Ireland drink driving campaign saw 552 people detected for drink driving over the Christmas period and up until last week 2,669 people have been detected.
"That means people will lose their licences and peoples livelihood will be affected and they can lose their jobs. But even more so, drink is still accountable for one in five road deaths in Northern Ireland. The minimum disqualification is for 12 months plus the driver must re-sit their driving test and that's only the legal penalties. The bigger penalty is that if you kill or seriously injure someone you will have to live with that for the rest of your life. So morally, there is a much bigger penalty," concluded Insp Hazlett.
The Donegal County Council Road Safety Officer, Mr Eamon Browne, said that they fully supported the campaign through the Donegal Road Safety Working Group.
"Last week, a cross border research paper was released which highlighted speeding and drink driving problems in Donegal and in the Foyle District so, for us, this is a very important partnership to establish. We will also be looking at further cross border campaigns right through next year with seat belt and speeding campaigns and this is really the start of the partnership," Mr Browne said.
