26 May 2011 – The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Paul Mallee, has welcomed the confirmation from the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, that new regulations on the mandatory testing for alcohol of all drivers involved in accidents or collisions will come into operation next week.

Mr Mallee said that this measure, along with a series of others that were contained in the new Road Traffic Bill 2011 will build on the great work that has been done in recent years to reduce the number of fatalities on Irish roads.

Mr Mallee said that the Institute, as the representative body for those involved in the transport and logistics industries in Ireland, has a professional interest in improving safety standards on Irish roads and that mandatory testing was a key element of this.

Mr Mallee commented, “Road safety is a priority issue for all of us who are involved in the transport and logistics sector. It is fundamental to our businesses and livelihoods as well as to our own personal lives when we use the Irish road network.

“On that basis we wholeheartedly welcome the huge improvements that have been made in road safety and standards in Ireland in recent years, and welcome the new Minister’s commitment to further developing this area through the new Road Traffic legislation.

“We also look forward to the introduction of the new lower blood/alcohol limits later this year, and, in particular, the 20mg level for professional drivers.

“The campaign to improve standards and reduce fatalities is ongoing, and all transport bodies, representative groups, and operators will continue to work with the new Government in whatever we can to achieve that.”