Proud day for PARC campaigners 18.10.07

INISHOWEN-based Public Against Road Carnage (PARC) is celebrating following the Government's decision to make compulsory the breath testing of all drivers involved in serious road accidents. PARC was founded 18 months ago and has fought tirelessly for the legislation which will be enacted next year.

PARC founder Susan Gray of Culdaff said the decision had vindicated the group's hard work and relentless lobbying of politicians, road safety agencies and the media. "It's a very, very proud day for us. There were some times when you felt like you were getting nowhere, but it's all been proved to be worthwhile," she said. The Opposition described the move as a "humiliating climbdown" in the light of the Government's previous pledge but then refusal to adopt the measure. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey stressed that priority had to be given to the medical care of a critically injured driver.
He said Gardaí should have discretion so that getting the breath sample did not put accident victims' lives further at risk. However, Susan Gray, whose work inspired the launch of other PARC branches throughout the country, said she would strenuously fight any clause in the legislation that would allow discretion being left to Gardaí at crash scenes. "Where a person is seriously injured, of course we would expect medical treatment to be given a priority. But that should not preclude testing for alcohol unless it would endanger the person's life. "And the test can always be done once a person is comfortable in hospital. "As far as I'm concerned, the only time refusal would be acceptable is if a senior doctor refused permission to allow a blood or urine sample be taken on the grounds that it would be life-threatening," she said. Asked if PARC's fight was now at a end, Ms. Gray stressed that this was far from the case. "In fact, this is only the beginning. We will be watching very, very closely and will be getting the appropriate advice to make sure that the legislation goes far enough and is enacted to the letter," she added.
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