Tough for drink drive truckers
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TOUGH measures to beat drinking and driving truckers are likely following Transport Minister Dr John Gilbert's acceptance of the Blennerhassett Report.
In a Commons reply, Dr Gilbert commented that he had had nothing but favourable reports on the context of the document. "There is generally agreed to be an urgent need for further measures to counteract this growing social problem," he said.
The measures that were suggested by the Blennerhassett Committee included making of the breath test the deciding factor on drunkenness with the blood test only an option if the driver wants it.
Drivers in high risk categories would be forced to apply for their licences to the magistrates after a period instead of the automatic re-instating that is done at present.
And there is not likely to be any mercy for truck drivers who are found guilty of drink and drive offences — they will still lose their hgv licences as well as their ordinary car licences on conviction.
But the most important point that the report raised was that police are likely to be allowed to stop drivers with no prior reason and they will be able to breathalyse on the spot.
The committee recommended that limitations on breath testing at present imposed on the police be removed to give more scope for the police to use their discretion when it comes to assessing driver behaviour.