I think people who drink drive should be imprisoned on the first offence because the second they get behind the wheel of a car lives are being put at risk. At the old limit of 80mg drivers are six times more likely to be involved in a collision. At half the old limit drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a collision.
A standard drink is 10 grams and the limit is 50 milligrams (20mg for learner, novice or professional drivers) and with alcohol estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 3 fatal collisions, even after what might seem like one harmless drink, will still impair your driving skills whether you realise it or not. I feel that anyone who puts lives at risk should be imprisoned whether it’s their first or third offence.
If a person is caught the punishment isn’t that severe. As it stands if the driver is caught under the 20mg limit, they are served with an on the spot fixed penalty notice and receive a fine of €200 and the person will be disqualified from holding a driving licence for a period of 3 months. If driver is caught under the 50mg limit they will be issued an on the spot of fixed penalty notice, receive a fine of €200 and 3 penalty points which will remain on their licence for 3 years.
I personally think that whatever the limit if you’re caught driving with an unsafe amount of alcohol in your system you should be imprisoned for unsafe driving and putting lives at risk. If someone gets away with drink driving once, they will more than likely try it again and will probably continue to try drive under the influence of alcohol. If however someone is put in prison the first time they’re caught, for most people they won’t take the chance of getting caught again, especially if the imprisonment is longer on the second offence.
So again I ask how many lives have to be lost before people understand that drink driving is a serious offence?
Ca.L