DIY breath test 'can give driver false security'
The Road Safety Authority chairman has thrown his weight behind criticism of the device.
It comes as a poll shows strong public disapproval of breath testing on drivers in the morning.
The TG4 tns-mrbi opinion poll in Co Sligo and north Leitrim also found over a quarter of people questioned have been going to the pub less often since the drink-driving crackdown began.
It also comes as garda figures show drink-drivers are still taking to the roads in huge numbers in the run-up to the festive period. The latest provisional figures reveal that in the seven-day period from December 4 to yesterday, inclusive, a total of 383 drink-driving incidents were recorded. This compared to 374 for the previous week.
Numerous safety watchdogs have branded the Safer Drive breathalyser product and others like it now on the market as dangerous gimmicks. The gadgets have been promoted by a Dublin-based firm on the internet since random breath testing came in last July.
Mr Byrne's comments come just weeks after the Medical Bureau of Road Safety expressed concern that the self-test devices could give drivers a false sense of safety.
"The Road Safety Authority does not support the use of such devices and is concerned that they are counter to the message put forward by the Road Safety Authority," Mr Byrne said in a letter to Cork Councillor Michael McGrath earlier this month.
Cllr McGrath is campaigning to have the breathalyser gadget taken off the market. "In the past couple of weeks, I have highlighted the danger of the breathalyser gadget because drivers could start to rely on it as an accurate measurement of their level of intoxication," he said.
The Irish distributor of the product vigorously defended it against claims it would cause more road deaths. Barry Sweeney said the device was more likely to prevent fatalities, as it is just as accurate as breathalysers used by gardai.
"The product is endorsed by government authorities in the US and Australia who are far more progressive on road safety than their Irish equivalents," he claimed.
The comments came as the opinion poll revealed a rural-urban divide in attitudes concerning the recent garda crackdown on drinking and driving.
Over half of all voters surveyed registered strong disapproval of morning breathalysing, but disapproval was strongest in rural areas, with 71pc of the urban electorate supporting it compared with just 36pc of rural dwellers.
Overall, the greater support for the recent crackdown came from the urban areas, with 96pc of urban dwellers registering approval compared with 82pc of rural dwellers.
There were also indications of disapproval of the current blood alcohol limit of 80mg per 100ml.
- Anne-Marie Walsh and Anita Guidera
