'Call 999 if friends or family drink and drive'

>> Senior garda says section of society will ignore safety pleas

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

A SENIOR garda yesterday urged people to call 999 if they see family and friends get behind the wheel while drunk or high on drugs.

Chief Superintendent David Harrington also said there was a section of society who simply disregarded public appeals for safer driving - and prosecution is the only answer for them.

He acknowledged that some motorists will ignore all enforcement operations and safety campaigns to drive over the limit.

When asked if that showed those rogue drivers just did not care, Chief Supt Harrington replied: “Possibly a sense of invincibility, possibly downright disrespect for the law, for their fellow citizens and road users and it is unacceptable. Awareness brings us so far.

“But for behaviour of that nature it is detection and prosecution before the courts and sanction.”

Speaking outside Garda Headquarters in Dublin at a briefing to mark the end of the force's Christmas roads campaign, the senior traffic officer also called on people to contact gardai if they saw friends or family get behind the wheel over the limit.